Discretion And hardy valour are the twins of honour, And, nursed together, make a conqueror! Divided, but a talker. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. The survey having been completed, Captain M---, in pursuance of the orders which he had received, weighed his anchor, and proceeded to cruise until the want of provisions and water should compel him to return into port. For many days the look-out men at the mastheads were disappointed in their hopes of reporting a strange sail, the chase or capture of which would relieve the monotony of constant sky and water, until, one Sunday forenoon, as Captain M--- was performing divine service, the man at the masthead hailed the deck with "A strange sail on the weather-bow!" The puritan may be shocked to hear that the service was speedily, although decorously closed; but Captain M--- was aware from the fidgeting of the ship's company, upon the capstan bars, on which they were seated, that it would be impossible to regain their attention to the service, even if he had felt inclined to proceed: and he well knew, that any worship of God in which the mind and heart were not engaged, was but an idle ceremony, if not a solemn mockery. The hands were turned up--all sail was made--and in an hour, the stranger was to be seen with the naked eye from the fore-yard. "What do you make of her, Mr Stewart?" said the first-lieutenant to him, as he sat aloft with his glass directed towards the vessel. "A merchant ship, sir, in ballast." "What did he say, Jerry?" inquired Prose, who stood by him on the gangway. "A French vessel, deeply laden, Prose." "Bravo, Jerry!" said Prose, rubbing his hands. "We shall get some prize-money, I do declare." "To be sure we shall. It will give us twenty pounds at least for a midshipman's share, for her cargo must be sugar and coffee. Only, confound it, one has to wait so long for it. I'll sell mine, dog-cheap, if any one will buy it. Will you, Prose?" "Why, Jerry, I don't much like speculation: but, now, what would you really sell your chance for?" "I'll take ten pounds for it. We're certain to come up with her." "Ten pounds! No, Jerry, that is too much. I'll tell you what, I'll give you five pounds." "Done," replied Jerry, who was aware that a vessel in ballast would not give him thirty shillings, if Captain M--- sent her in, which was very unlikely. "Where's the money?" "Oh, you must trust to my honour; the first port we go into, I pledge you my word that you shall have it." "I don't doubt your word, or your honour, the least, Prose; but still I should like to have the money in my hand. Could you not borrow it? Never mind--it's a bargain." In two hours the frigate had neared the stranger so as to distinguish her water-line from the deck, and on hoisting her ensign and pendant, the vessel bore down to her. "She has hoisted English colours, sir," reported Stewart to the captain.