Impelled by this most welcome breeze, we were soon round the South Foreland and off Dover, where we hove-to to land the pilot. In executing this manoeuvre we passed close under the stern of a magnificent topsail schooner-yacht, as large as ourselves, with hull painted a brilliant white, which, in the pale moonlight and with her snow-white canvas, made her look like a beautiful phantom craft. She was getting under way, and had just tripped her anchor and was canting to the southward when we rounded to under her stern; and I noticed Mr Roberts, my chief mate, looking long and admiringly at her as she gathered way and, swinging her fore-yard, glided swiftly, yet with a stately movement, out from among the crowd of craft by which she was surrounded. Turning away at last, as if regretfully, from the contemplation of the noble vessel, Roberts stamped his foot impatiently, and, striding up to the pilot, demanded-- "I say, Mr Pilot, is there any chance of those mates of yours catching sight of our signals to-night, think ye, or are they keeping a lookout from between the blankets?" The pilot, whose perfect calmness and indifference were in ludicrous contrast to the mate's impatience, turned slowly round and eyed his questioner deliberately from top to toe before he deigned to answer. "They will be alongside in less than a minute, mister. They are shut in behind that billy-boy just now; but--Ah, here they come!" "Lay aft here, one of you," shouted the mate, "and stand by with a line for that boat." "You will come below and take a glass of wine or a glass of grog before you go ashore, pilot?" I asked. "Thank you, sir; I've no objection," was the response; and we were just turning away toward the saloon companion when the mate stepped quietly up to me and said-- "I suppose we may as well rig out the stu'n'sail-booms all ready for making sail as soon as the pilot has left us? It will be a pity not to make the most of this fair wind while it lasts." "Certainly," I replied, somewhat unwillingly; for, truth to tell, I thought it would be quite time enough to hurry when my poor mother had gone ashore and we were on the other side of the Bill of Portland. Roberts, however, evidently regarded the matter from a very different standpoint from that which I occupied--perhaps he was anxious already to show off the ship's pace--for, ere I had time to reach the companion, his voice rang out loud and clear-- "Lay aft here, some of you lads, and rouse out the stu'n'sail gear; the rest of you slip up aloft and cast loose the larboard fore-topmast and topgallant stu'n'sail boom, ready for rigging out. Take a line aloft with you, and send the end down on deck for the gear as soon as you are ready. Look alive, my hearties!" Then, _sotto voce_, "Yon schooner is a beauty, and no mistake; but she is not going to be allowed to run away from this clipper if I can help it!"