The captain, his elbows on the binnacle, still watched the distant brig.

Her crew were tricing up the boarding-netting, dragging round the starboard guns, knocking new portholes for them, and making every preparation for a desperate resistance.

In the thick of it all a huge man, bearded to the eyes, with a red nightcap upon his head, was straining and stooping and hauling.

The captain watched him with a sour smile, and then snapping up his glass he turned upon his heel.

For an instant he stood staring.
"Call back the boats!" he cried in his thin, creaking voice.
"Clear away for action there! Cast loose those main-deck guns.
Brace back the yards, Mr.Smeaton, and stand by to go about when she has weigh enough." Round the curve of the estuary was coming a huge vessel.