The sight was beautiful; and while some of the people were keeping a bright look-out for the commodore down to leeward, the rest of the crew were gazing out to windward at the approaching vessel. I had at no time from the first thought she was a man-of-war, her sails and yards being by no means square enough; but if I had hesitated at all in the matter, the slow and awkward way in which she shortened sail, must have left no doubt of the fact on my mind. "There--there again--what _can_ that be?" said I involuntarily. "Hillo," sung out several of the crew forward, "hear you that, messmate--hear you that?" A low, still, most heavenly melody again floated down to us, but louder than before, and died meltingly away as the breeze fell, until it once more became inaudible. Since we had discarded the frigate from our thoughts, the ship to windward was now of course the only quarter from whence the sounds could proceed. I listened again--but all was still--presently the dark outlines of the sails of the approaching vessel became clearer. There was now a long pause, and you might have heard a pin drop on deck, when the solemn strain once more gushed forth high into the pure heavens. We all listened with the most intense attention. It was the hundredth Psalm--and I could now distinguish the blending of male and female voices in the choir--presently the sound sank again, and gradually died away altogether. Corporal Lennox was standing near me, indeed so close, that I could not help overhearing what passed between him and one of the quartermasters. "I say, Peter," quoth the soldier, "did you ever read about the Covenanters?" "Anan?" _quod_ Peter. "Have you never read about the Covenanters, my man?" "Can't say as I have--what ship did they belong to? they must have been brothers, I suppose--stop--eh!--let me think--why I did know _one_ of that name in the water-guard at"---- "Oh man, Peter, you are an unenlightened creature--amaist as much so as the brutes that perish--I hope there may not be much expected o' ye at the great muster, Peter, when the archangel shall be boatswain's mate, and all hands shall be piped to answer for their deeds done in the body--yea, when the grey moss-grown grave-stone shall no longer shield the sinner from the glance of the Almighty--I hae a regard for ye though, notwithstanding--but ye'll forgive me if I say yeer but a puir brute at the best, Peter." "Why, Master Lennox," retorted Peter, "I have borne more from you, my fine fellow, than I thought I could have done from ere a messmate I have ever had, for you have done me more than one sarvice--but"----