"What, another of the blackguards! By Jove! I'll go aloft and take a look for myself.

It's ten to one that I see her from the maintop." In three minutes more, Captain Cuffe was in the top in question; having passed through the lubber-hole, as every sensible man does, in a frigate, more especially when she stands up for want of wind.

That was an age in which promotion was rapid, there being few gray-bearded lieutenants, then, in the English marine; and even admirals were not wanting who had not cut all their wisdom-teeth.

Cuffe, consequently, was still a young man; and it cost him no great effort to get up his ship's ratlins in the manner named.

Once in the top, he had all his eyes about him.