A pair of sharp eyes might see every thing that passes within twenty miles; and, as a proof of it, I shall be the first to sing out, 'sail, ho!'" "Where-away, my young lord ?" said Dutton, fidgeting, as if he had neglected his duty, in the presence of a superior; "I'm sure, your lordship can see nothing but the fleet at anchor, and a few boats passing between the different ships and the landing!" "Where-away, sure enough, youngster ?" added the admiral.

"I see some gulls glancing along the surface of the water, a mile or two outside the ships, but nothing like a sail." The boy caught up Dutton's glass, which lay on the seat, and, in a minute, he had it levelled at the expanse of water.

It was some little time, and not without much sighting along the barrel of the instrument, that he got it to suit himself.
"Well, Master Sharp-eyes," said Bluewater, drily, "is it a Frenchman, or a Spaniard ?" "Hold on, a moment, sir, until I can get this awkward glass to bear on it .-- Ay--now I have her--she's but a speck, at the best--royals and head of top-gallant-sails--no, sir, by George, it's our own cutter, the Active, with her square-sail set, and the heads of her lower sails just rising.

I know her by the way she carries her gaff." "The Active!--that betokens news," observed Bluewater, thoughtfully--for the march of events, at that moment, must necessarily brink on a crisis in his own career.

"Sir Gervaise sent her to look into Cherbourg." "Yes, sir; we all know that--and, there she comes to tell us, I hope, that Monsieur de Vervillin, has, at last, made up his mind to come out and face us, like a man.