Chapter 25

"Their preparation is to-day by sea." _--Anthony and Cleopatra._

"Sail, ho!" in the little frequented sea in which the "Rover" lay, was a
cry that quickened every dull pulsation in the bosoms of her crew. Many
weeks had now, according to their method of calculation, been entirely
lost in the visionary and profitless plans of their chief. They were not
of a temper to reason on the fatality which had forced the Bristol trader
from their toils; it was enough, for their rough natures, that the rich
spoil had escaped them. Without examining for the causes of this loss, as
has been already seen, they had been but too well disposed to visit their
disappointment on the head of the innocent officer who was charged with
the care of a vessel that they already considered a prize. Here, then, was
at length an opportunity to repair their loss. The stranger was about to
encounter them in a part of the ocean where succour was nearly hopeless,
and where time might be afforded to profit, to the utmost, by any success
that the freebooters should obtain. Every man in the ship seemed sensible
of these advantages; and, as the words sounded from mast to yard, and from
yard to deck, they were taken up in cheerful echos from fifty mouths,
which repeated the cry, until it was heard issuing from the inmost
recesses of the vessel.

The Rover himself manifested more than usual satisfaction at this prospect
of a capture. He was quite aware of the necessity of some brilliant or of
some profitable exploit, to curb the rising tempers of his men; and long
experience had taught him that he could ever draw the cords of discipline
the tightest in moments that appeared the most to require the exercise of
his own high courage and consummate skill. He walked forward, therefore,
among his people, with a countenance that was no longer buried in reserve,
speaking to several, whom he addressed by name, and of whom he did not
even disdain to ask opinions concerning the character of the distant sail.
When a sort of implied assurance that their recent offences were
overlooked had thus been given, he summoned Wilder, the General, and one
or two others of the superior officers, to the poop, where they all
disposed themselves, to make more particular and more certain observations,
by the aid of a half-dozen excellent glasses.

Many minutes were now passed in silent and intense scrutiny. The day was
cloudless, the wind fresh, without being heavy, the sea long, even, and
far from high, and, in short, all things combined, as far as is ever seen
on the restless ocean, not only to aid their examination, but to favour
those subsequent evolutions which each instant rendered more probable
would become necessary.

"It is a