He was so very cunning as to have detected how little Cuffe was disposed to believe him; and he told the truth as the most certain means of averting mischief from the lugger.

Nor did his _ruse_ fail of its object.

His whole manner had so much deceit and low cunning about it, that neither Cuffe nor Griffin believed a word he said; and after a little more pumping, the fellow was dismissed in disgust, with a sharp intimation that it would be singularly for his interest to look out how he discharged his general duties in the ship.
"This will never do, Griffin," exclaimed the captain, vexed and disappointed.

"Should anything occur to Clinch, or should the admiral happen to be off with the king, on one of his shooting excursions, we shall be in a most serious dilemma.

Would to God we had not left the anchorage at Capri! _Then_ might communicate with the flag with some certainty.