"I _was_ afraid at first, Captain Cuffe, my signal had not been understood." "Understood! How could it be mistaken?
You showed a black ball, for 'the lugger's in sight.' You'll not deny that, I trust ?" "No, sir; one black ball, for 'the lugger's in sight.' That's just what I did show, Captain Cuffe." "And _three_ black balls together, for 'she bears due south from Capri.' What do you say to _that_" "All right, sir.

Three black balls together, for 'she bears due south from Capri.' I didn't tell the distance, Captain Cuffe, because Mr.
Winchester gave me no signals for that." "And these signals you kept showing every half-hour, as long as it was light; even until the Proserpine was off." "All according to orders, Captain Cuffe, as Mr.Winchester will tell you.

I was to repeat every half-hour, as long as the lugger was in sight, and the day lasted." "Aye, sir; but you were not ordered to send as after a jack-o-lantern, or to mistake some xebec or other, from one of the Greek islands, for a light, handy French lugger" "Nor did I, Captain Cuffe, begging your pardon, sir.

I signalled the Few-Folly, and nothing else, I give you my word for it." Cuffe looked hard at the master's-mate for a half a minute, and his ire insensibly lessened as he gazed.
"You are too old a seaman, Clinch, not to know what you were about! If you saw the privateer, be good enough to tell us what has become of her." "That is more than I can say, Captain Cuffe, though _see_ her I did; and that so plainly, as to be able to make out her jigger, even.

You know, sir, we shot away her jigger-mast in the chase off Elba, and she got a new one, that steves for'rard uncommonly.