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As the polacre approached the gunboats, a sudden bustle was observed on board them. "They begin to smell a rat," Captain Lockett said. "Hoist the topgallant sails," for the brig had been under easy sail, to enable her to hold her place with the polacre. The men were already at quarters, and the ports were opened and the guns run out.
"Yes, I should think so; but I don't know what the captain means to do. We have had no time to talk, this morning. I daresay you will meet him, on shore; he has gone to the post office, to get his papers signed. We have been quite pestered, this morning, by men coming on board to buy wine out of the polacre; but the captain wouldn't have the hatches taken off.
Captain Lockett rowed to the polacre, and examined his prize; and then, taking Bob in his boat, rowed to the barque. "Well, Joe, have you made out what you have got on board?" the captain said, when he reached the deck. "No, sir. Neither of the officers can speak a word of English. I have opened the hatches, and she is chock-full of hides; but what there is, underneath, I don't know."
"Why, sir, I was bound out of Liverpool with a cargo of manufactured goods for Smyrna, when yesterday, as I was standing on my course with a light wind, I fell in with a polacre brig with a signal of distress flying. I hove-to, when her boat came alongside me with a dozen cut-throat looking fellows in her, in red caps, and one very fine gentleman with pistols in his belt, and a sword by his side.
At the order to heave to, they were all thrown up into the wind. The frigate reduced her sail as she came up and, as she neared the polacre, the order was shouted: "Send a boat alongside!" The boat was already prepared for lowering. Four seamen got into her, and rowed Bob alongside the frigate.
Just as the gunboat nearest the polacre finding the hail, for her to bring to, unheeded fired a shot into her, the brig's head paid off, and she poured a broadside into the two gunboats. One of them was struck amidships. For a minute there was great confusion on board, and then she made for her companion, evidently in a sinking condition.
They are bringing a little breeze with them." "What are they like, Mr. Crofts?" "One is a polacre, another a xebec, and the third looks like a full-rigged craft; but as she is end on, I can't say for certain." "All right, Mr. Crofts! I will be up in five minutes. We can do nothing until we get the wind, anyhow." Breakfast was speedily finished, and they went on deck.
The discharge had staggered them, for they had not given the brig credit for carrying such heavy metal. Then they began to row again. The swivel gun of the brig kept up a steady fire on them. Two of the guns of the polacre had been, by this time, shifted to the stern; and these opened fire, while the first mate's crew on board the barque were also at work.
The three Spanish vessels had all been edging in towards shore, and the polacre anchored just before sunset. The ship held on for another hour, but was a mile astern of the other two when she, also, dropped her anchor.
Bring that gentleman here." Jim led the way up to the poop. Bob saluted. "Good morning, Captain Langton." "Why, it's Repton!" the captain exclaimed, in surprise. "Why, where do you spring from, and what craft are these?" "I am in command, at present, sir, of the polacre; which, with the barque, is a prize of the brig the Antelope, privateer." "But what are you doing on board, Repton?
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