It's so beastly black to-night we could n't make out anything very well." "All right; better keep off a little, out of the way.

I will run down and see what's wrong." The present course of the Juno would have brought her across the bows of the Ranger, but the ships were nearing so rapidly that a collision would have resulted, so the Juno was kept away a little, and soon ran down on the lee bow of the Ranger.

The two ships were thus placed side by side, the Ranger on the port tack having the advantage of the weather gauge of the Juno, which had the wind free,--an advantage the captain of the English ship would never have yielded without an effort, had he imagined the character of the ship opposite him.

The battle lanterns of the Juno were lighted, the ports triced up, and she presented a brilliant picture of a gallant ship ready for action.

The Ranger, black as the night and silent as death, could barely be discerned in dim outline from the Juno.
"Mellish ahoy." "Ahoy, the Juno." "What's wrong on board of you ?" "Nothing, sir." "Pistol shots and screams were heard by the ship ahead; but who hails--where is Captain Brent ?" "Answer him," hissed Jones, in the ear of the British captain; "tell him there were some drunken soldiers of the Highlanders in a row.
Speak out, man," he continued threateningly.
"Why don't you answer ?" came from the Juno.