Mr. Kentish and myself, and informed the officer there was a sail

in sight, which was bound to pass us very close, and that Mr.

Harland was in doubt about the colours.

'Being so near the island?' asked Mr. Kentish.

'That was what Mr. Harland said, sir,' returned the sailor, with a

scrape.

'Better not, I think,' said Mr. Kentish. 'My compliments to Mr.

Harland; and if she seem a lively boat, give her the stars and

stripes; but if she be dull, and we can easily outsail her, show

John Dutchman. That is always another word for incivility at sea;

so we can disregard a hail or a flag of distress, without

attracting notice.'

As soon as the sailor had gone on deck, I turned to the officer in

wonder. 'Mr. Kentish, if that be your name,' said I, 'are you

ashamed of your own colours?'

'Your ladyship refers to the Jolly Roger?' he inquired, with

perfect gravity; and immediately after, went into peals of

laughter. 'Pardon me,' said he; 'but here for the first time I

recognise your ladyship's impetuosity.' Nor, try as I pleased,

could I extract from him any explanation of this mystery, but only

oily and commonplace evasion.

While we were thus occupied, the movement of the Nemorosa gradually

became less violent; its speed at the same time diminished; and

presently after, with a sullen plunge, the anchor was discharged

into the sea. Kentish immediately rose, offered his arm, and

conducted me on deck; where I found we were lying in a roadstead

among many low and rocky islets, hovered about by an innumerable

cloud of sea-fowl. Immediately under our board, a somewhat larger

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