260 THE OCEAN. 



call of "Sail ho!" has an electric effect: all the 

 telescopes on board are soon pointed towards her; 

 her rig, her canvas, her direction, the force of wind 

 she has, the tack she is on, if "by the wind," are 

 all carefully scrutinized and commented on. If the 

 courses of the two vessels, and their positions, are 

 such that they will approach very near to each other, 

 they will " speak," as a matter of course ; but there 

 are few commanders so churlish as not to submit 

 to a slight deviation of their course in order to com- 

 municate with another, Perhaps the stranger is 

 seen directly astern, following right in the wake, a 

 circumstance which, as far as mv own observation 

 extends, commonly excites a slight feeling of un- 

 easiness, and a more than usual attention to her ap- 

 pearance, powers of sailing, &c. Though the reason 

 assures one that the occurrence of a ship in that 

 particular direction, is as likely as in any other 

 quarter, yet the mind will recur to the idea of pur- 

 suit, and thoughts of walking the plank, or hanging 

 at the yard-arm, will crowd up to the imagination, 

 especially if the locality happen to be the West 

 Indies, or the Spanish Main, or any other sea ha- 

 bitually infested with pirates. But as she gains 

 a greater nearness, her hull and rig indicate her to 

 be a peaceful trader, and presently the bunting is 

 run up to the peak, and the folds of England's fair 

 ensign rlow out upon the breeze. The approach 

 of a vessel is always a pleasing sight ; her graceful 

 movements, as she bounds over the waves, the white 

 foam rolling up under her bows, her taper masts 

 and spars, the elegant curves which the breeze gives 



