human
Yes, said Captain Chubb,
gpt
continued the captain, giving Rodd a very peculiar look out of one eye, after closing the other,
human
What, have you been out in a man-of-war?
gpt
Nay, my lad, but several of our fellows have, and if you ask them, they can tell you what it's like too.
human
Then you never were fired at?
gpt
Who says I warn't? I tell you I was, though it wasn't by forts. It was a Revenue cutter got trying to hit me.
human
What, smuggling?
gpt
Nay! Smuggling, indeed! It was her skipper--Lieutenant somebody or another--I forget his name--say Smith. He made a blunder, same as I did in taking you and the doctor here for slavers.
human
Oh!
gpt
Ah, it warn't anything to laugh at, my lad, with round shot coming a-splashing right across your bows. Certainly it was in a fog, and my craft didn't get hit, but more than once the balls came pretty near, and I remember thinking whether if the cutter did sink us we should all be able to swim ashore, and I come to the conclusion that we couldn't in our boots, for it was about nine miles.
human
I should think not, replied Rodd dryly.
gpt
But, Captain Chubb--about that brig; do you think they'd get right away to sea?
human
I shouldn't think they'd try to, my lad.
gpt
They seemed to be trying to.
human
Not they. Her skipper, as soon as he got outside the harbour, would try to creep under the lee of the high ground somewhere out west. Whether he'd do it or not is quite another thing. Let's hope he did, for I don't care about hearing that good men and true have been drowned in a storm, even if they are French. I am not like your uncle here.
gpt
Come, I say, Captain Chubb, cried the doctor indignantly,
human
Beg pardon, sir. I suppose you are right, granted the skipper;
gpt
Well, I hope so too, said Uncle Paul shortly, and with a look in his countenance that made Rodd think about some words a friend had once said about a red rag to a bull.
human
But I suppose you don't believe that vessel had some emissaries of Napoleon on board, come to set fire to the port of Havre?
gpt
Nay, said the skipper, drawing out the negative very deliberately.
human
Don't see any likelihood of their doing such a thing. What for? Suppose they did get it alight, that wouldn't bring Bony back. Nay, his game's about up now, and there will be quiet again over here for a bit, though I wouldn't venture to say for how long. Keeping quiet isn't in a Frenchman's nature.
gpt
But there was evidently something very special about the vessel, or else the French Government wouldn't have sent orders for her to be seized.
human
French Government did?
gpt
Yes, I believe so, replied Uncle Paul.
human
We saw the officer and his men come riding in with the dispatch.
gpt
Nay. Order for the Revenue to put men on board.
human
Oh no, replied Uncle Paul.
gpt
From what we saw and what we heard, it was something much more important than that. Why, hang it, captain, they wouldn't have turned out the garrison and manned all the forts to stop the progress of a smuggler, would they?
human
We wouldn't at Plymouth, sir; but there's no knowing what Frenchmen will do. But there, I give in. It must have been something stronger than that, and I am beginning to think that squire here's right, and that yon vessel, the--the--the--
gpt
Right, snorted the skipper.
human
She was something of a privateer, on mischief bent, and I shouldn't be a bit surprised if we was to hear something more about her. I don't know, though; if the storm blows itself out before morning we shan't lie long here in harbour, but make away south as fast as I can make the schooner bowl along.
gpt
Then you think the weather will hold up soon?
human
Nay, I am not going to think, squire; I'll wait until I can be sure. Anyhow, I won't fill my pipe till we get aboard.
gpt
Then you mean to try soon?
human
Why not? replied the skipper gruffly.
gpt
Look yonder; what do you say to that?
human
That