"But I am
going to remain on the bridge with you for a while. I want a look at
that mud-hooker over yonder."
Within fifteen minutes more the gunboat was running fairly close,
though off to starboard.
"That doesn't look even a little bit like the 'Juanita,'" muttered
Ensign Eph, disgustedly. "Why, she's longer than the Cobtown schooner.
Besides, the 'Juanita' is a two-sticker, while that hooker yonder has
a third mast with a yawl-rig leg-o'-mutton sail."
Hal said nothing, but continued to study the stranger through his
night-glass.
"She is a queer-looking hooker," muttered Hastings. "Say, Eph, somehow
that boat doesn't look as though she was built to fit her own rig."
"Why not!" demanded Eph.
"Well, look at her length. Then take a peep at the height of her
dory-mast. Does it look tall enough for the length of the schooner?"
"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Somers, also taking a careful look
through the nightglass. "Jove, Hal, she is an odd-looking piece of
hulk."
Eph turned to pass the order to run in still closer to the schooner.
"What's wrong with her stern-hull?" asked Ensign Somers, three or four
minutes later.
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