"Well, well, Drainings," continued the lieutenant, "do as you please, but have him cleaned instantly; his appearance, with those crawling insects amongst the wool--hair, I beg pardon--is shocking; so forward, Master Quacco, and be scrubbed." "Ay," quoth little Dicky, "forward Massa Quacco, and be scrub;" and great was the laughter and shouting at the shearing of Serjeant Quacco. * * * * * "What is that flying on board the Gazelle, Mr Peak?" said Lanyard. "The signal to chase in the north-west, sir." "Mast-head there," the lookout-man answered; "do you see any thing in the north-west quarter?' "No, sir," replied the man. "Very well. Turn the hands up, Mr Peak, and make sail." This was accordingly done; and, after having hauled our wind about an hour, we saw the vessel, which the frigate had seen so much sooner than us in consequence of the greater height of her masts. We chased the whole forenoon; and, as we rose her, made her out to be a large merchant-ship under all sail, evidently desirous of avoiding the pleasure of our society if she could; for, verily, like the ugly face of many an honest man, our appearance was far from being the best of us, our rig being deucedly roguish. By five o'clock in the afternoon we were within half a mile, when we hoisted our colours and pennant, and fired a gun to make our friend heave to; but this she declined to do, and we now guessed that she was one of the large London traders. There were, we could see, a number of people on deck, some of them apparently passengers. "Why, Mr Wadding," said Mr Lanyard to the gunner, "he seems determined to lead us a dance; we must send the next shot nearer him." The old man was looking through the glass at her. "If I don't mistake, they are training two guns aft, sir, there, through the stern-ports; and she must have a crew of some forty hands, I think, from those I see on deck. There are a number of amphiberous-looking people besides on the poop--passengers, I suppose--busy with muskets, sir. If he persists in refusing to let us board him, he will bother us a little." "That is his look out," said Dick. "Set every rag that will draw; pack on her, Mr Marline, and clear away both guns. Pipe away the cutter's crew, boatswain, and see they are properly armed." Then to me--"I say, Benjie, any objections to a lark--Mr Marline is going in the boat, eh?" "None in the world--so here's with you, Master Marline, my boy." I went below to dress myself, and as I was putting on my jacket, bang, I heard a gun fired at us. "Call Mr Brail, Lennox," said Mr Lanyard. "Tell him the chase has run out two stern chase-guns, and has just fired at us." I came on deck as he spoke. "Did the shot come near you, Mr Marline?" continued Lanyard. "It whistled right over our masthead, sir--it was very well aimed."