Part 20 (1/2)

”Bah! another false alarm,” cried Mr Staples; ”are we never to capture one of the scoundrels?”

Just then Mark touched his elbow, and pointed to a vessel which had been unnoticed before, lying as it did close under the shore, with bare poles raked well back, and the whole of the long, low, schooner-rigged vessel wearing a look of having been built for swift-sailingpurpose

”Well done, sharp eyes!” cried the lieutenant; ”that's one of the scoundrels;” and the course of the _Nautilus_ was changed directly with a peculiar result

The minute before not a soul was to be seen on board the schooner, which ht have been absolutely deserted; but, as soon as the course of the _Nautilus_ was changed and those on board saw that, in spite of lying close up under the trees of the muddy shore of what appeared to be a creek, they had been observed, sails were rapidly hoisted, and the slight, graceful vessel began to glide so swiftly through the water that it was evidently no slow shi+p that would catch her should she once get into the offing

She was about a mile away and promised to escape, but Captain Maitland did not mean to be out-un fired, and the colours run up as the course of the _Nautilus_ was again altered so as to cut the schooner off, and in due tiave out its puff of s close in shore till her captain saw that escape was i his hellided round and made off in the opposite direction

But the _Nautilus_ was again too quick for her, and in a fewshot after shot, till one better directed than the rest went through her maintopmast

The crew of the _Nautilus_ sent up a treaff sail, leaving the schooner for the ti

”We shall have her now for certain,” said Bob Howlett

”Yes; and she has shown no colours,” replied Mark; ”but suppose she does not turn out to be a slaver, after all”

”Suppose pigs were to fly,” cried Bob ”She's a slaver for certain, and we've got her”

”Doesn't look like it,” replied his co for now? Why, she sails as well as ever”

This was a slight exaggeration, but all the salasses the crew could be seen rapidly cutting away the da, while her helht for the shore

Another shot and another was fired, but not the slightest heed was paid; and as the _Nautilus_ went swiftly on, it was noted that, unseen before, there was a narrow river running up through the trees, with its regular fringe ofsteered for this

”She'll get right up that river, after all,” said Mark, who in the exciteotten all his past illness, and appeared to be as strong as ever

”Not she We shall have her first, iven in They've stopped and surrendered”

”She has struck on one of the banks, sir,” cried Lieutenant Staples, excitedly, for the schooner's way through the water had suddenly ceased, and she sloung round broadside on, with her sails shi+vering and flapping

”A prize at last!” cried Mark, as the lided on, till, when they were about a quarter of a mile away, Mr Russell announced that a couple of boats were leaving the schooner, and it was seen that her captain and creerefor the shore

”No doubt now about what she is, gentlemen,” said the captain ”Pipe away the cutter's crew Mr Russell, you would like to begin work again Juo and take possession”

”And pursue the boats, sir?”

”Bah! no! They are not worth the labour You can take one of the young gentlemen with you”

Bob took a step forward, but Mr Russell turned to Mark

”You'll come, Vandean,” he said; and the lad leaped into the cutter, which was rapidly roay through the muddy water, just as the schooner's boats disappeared round a headland covered with trees, which screened the outlet of a streained, and for which without doubt now the schooner's captain had been

”A splendid prize, Vandean,” said Mr Russell, as they drew near and saw the admirable build of the vessel, which looked nearly new ”She was evidently on her way for a cargo of the poor wretches We ought to have taken her afterwards, when she was laden”