The airs were very light; the ship hardly moved. It was beginning to get
dull, when one day a sail was sighted on the weather-bow, standing to
the eastward: on nearing her, she was seen, by the cut of her sails, to
be a man-of-war, evidently homeward bound: so Captain Hamilton ordered
the main-royal to be lowered (to render signal more visible) and the
"demand" hoisted. No notice being taken of this, a gun was fired to draw
her attention to the signal. This had the desired effect; down went her
main-royal, up went her "number." On referring to the signal book, she
proved to be the Vindictive from the Pacific Station.

This being ascertained, Captain Hamilton, being that captain's senior,
signalled "Close and prepare to receive letters." In obedience to this
she bore up, ran down, and rounded to; the sail in the Amphitrite was
also shortened, the maintopsail laid to the mast, and a boat lowered.
The captain having finished his despatches, they, with the letter-bags,
were handed into the boat, which shoved off, pulled to the lee side
of the Vindictive, and left the despatches, with Captain Hamilton's
compliments. On its return, both ships made sail on their respective
course, exchanging "bon voyage" by signal, and soon the upper sails of
the homeward-bounder were seen dipping below the horizon: longing eyes
followed her on board the Amphitrite.

How many hurried missives had been written and despatched in that
half-hour. But as for Staines, he was a man of forethought, and had a
volume ready for his dear wife.

Lord Tadcaster wrote to Lady Cicely Treherne. His epistle, though brief,
contained a plum or two.

He wrote: "What with sailing, and fishing, and eating nothing but roast