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Instantly
all
was
bustle
on
board
the
hitherto
quiet
schooner
.
The
topsails
were
taken
in
and
stowed
,
the
men
stood
by
the
sheets
and
halyards
,
and
the
captain
gazed
anxiously
at
the
breeze
,
which
was
now
rushing
towards
us
like
a
sheet
of
dark
blue
.
In
a
few
seconds
it
struck
us
.
The
schooner
trembled
,
as
if
in
surprise
at
the
sudden
onset
,
while
she
fell
away
;
then
,
bending
gracefully
to
the
wind
,
as
though
in
acknowledgment
of
her
subjection
,
she
cut
through
the
waves
with
her
sharp
prow
like
a
dolphin
,
while
Bill
directed
her
course
towards
the
strange
sail
.
In
half-an-hour
we
neared
her
sufficiently
to
make
out
that
she
was
a
schooner
,
and
from
the
clumsy
appearance
of
her
masts
and
sails
we
judged
her
to
be
a
trader
.
She
evidently
did
not
like
our
appearance
,
for
the
instant
the
breeze
reached
her
she
crowded
all
sail
and
showed
us
her
stern
.
As
the
breeze
had
moderated
a
little
,
our
topsails
were
again
shaken
out
;
and
it
soon
became
evident
--
despite
the
proverb
,
"
A
stern
chase
is
a
long
one
"
--
that
we
doubled
her
speed
,
and
would
overhaul
her
speedily
.
When
within
a
mile
we
hoisted
British
colours
,
but
receiving
no
acknowledgment
,
the
captain
ordered
a
shot
to
be
fired
across
her
bows
.
In
a
moment
,
to
my
surprise
,
a
large
portion
of
the
bottom
of
the
boat
amidships
was
removed
,
and
in
the
hole
thus
exposed
appeared
an
immense
brass
gun
.
It
worked
on
a
swivel
,
and
was
elevated
by
means
of
machinery
.
It
was
quickly
loaded
and
fired
.
The
heavy
ball
struck
the
water
a
few
yards
ahead
of
the
chase
,
and
ricochetting
into
the
air
,
plunged
into
the
sea
a
mile
beyond
it
.
This
produced
the
desired
effect
.
The
strange
vessel
backed
her
topsails
and
hove-to
,
while
we
ranged
up
and
lay-to
about
a
hundred
yards
off
.
"
Lower
the
boat
!
"
cried
the
captain
.
In
a
second
the
boat
was
lowered
and
manned
by
a
part
of
the
crew
,
who
were
all
armed
with
cutlasses
and
pistols
.
As
the
captain
passed
me
to
get
into
it
he
said
,
"
Jump
into
the
stern-sheets
,
Ralph
;
I
may
want
you
.
"
I
obeyed
,
and
in
ten
minutes
more
we
were
standing
on
the
stranger
's
deck
.
We
were
all
much
surprised
at
the
sight
that
met
our
eyes
.
Instead
of
a
crew
of
such
sailors
as
we
were
accustomed
to
see
,
there
were
only
fifteen
blacks
,
standing
on
the
quarter-deck
,
and
regarding
us
with
looks
of
undisguised
alarm
.
They
were
totally
unarmed
,
and
most
of
them
unclothed
.
One
or
two
,
however
,
wore
portions
of
European
attire
.
One
had
on
a
pair
of
duck
trousers
,
which
were
much
too
large
for
him
,
and
stuck
out
in
a
most
ungainly
manner
;
another
wore
nothing
but
the
common
,
scanty
,
native
garment
round
the
loins
and
a
black
beaver
hat
;
but
the
most
ludicrous
personage
of
all
,
and
one
who
seemed
to
be
chief
,
was
a
tall
,
middle-aged
man
,
of
a
mild
,
simple
expression
of
countenance
,
who
wore
a
white
cotton
shirt
,
a
swallow-tailed
coat
,
and
a
straw
hat
,
while
his
black
,
brawny
legs
were
totally
uncovered
below
the
knees
.
"
Where
's
the
commander
of
this
ship
?
"
inquired
our
captain
,
stepping
up
to
this
individual
.
"
I
is
cap
'
in
,
"
he
answered
,
taking
off
his
straw
hat
and
making
a
low
bow
.
"
You
!
"
said
our
captain
in
surprise
.
"
Where
do
you
come
from
,
and
where
are
you
bound
?
What
cargo
have
you
aboard
?
"
"
We
is
come
,
"
answered
the
man
with
the
swallow-tail
,
"
from
Aitutaki
;
we
was
go
for
Rarotonga
.
