CHAPTER XXIV.
A SEA FIGHT--ANOTHER IDEA OF THE PILOT'S--THE BOUDEUSE.
The captain of the _Hoboken_ was rather pleased than otherwise when the look-out reported the strange sail to show English colors.

He looked rather glum, however, half an hour afterwards, when the same voice bawled that she was a bull-dog looking craft, schooner-rigged, and pierced for sixteen guns.

The Yankee had hoped to fall in with a fat West Indiaman, instead of which he had now to deal with a man-of-war, carrying, perhaps, a larger weight of metal than himself.
The heads of the two ships were standing in towards each other, there was no wind to speak of, but every hour lessened the distance that separated the antagonists.
"Pilot," said the captain, addressing Willis, "be kind enough to let me know what you think of that craft." "I think," said Willis, taking the telescope, "I have had my eyes on her before.

Aye, aye, just as I thought.

An old tub of a Spaniard converted into an English cruiser, and commanded by Commodore Truncheon, I shouldn't wonder.