I've seen the time when the sight of a approachin revenoo vessel
would make me shiver an shake from stem to starn. But now how
changed! Such, my friends, is the mootability of human life!"

The boys looked at the steamer for a few moments, but at length
went back to their fishing. The approaching steamer had nothing in
it to excite curiosity: such an object was too familiar to withdraw
their thoughts from the excitement of their lines and hooks, and
the hope which each had of surpassing the other in the number of
catches animated them to new trials. So they soon forgot all about
the approaching steamer.

But Captain Corbet had nothing else to do, and so, whether it was
on account of his lack of employment, or because of the sake of old
associations, he kept his eyes fixed on the steamer. Time passed
on, and in the space of another half hour she had drawn very near
to the Antelope.

Suddenly Captain Corbet slapped his hand against his thigh.

"Declar, if they ain't a goin to overhaul us!" he cried.

At this the boys all turned again to look at the steamer.

"Declar, if that fellow in the gold hat ain't a squintin at us
through his spy-glass!" cried the captain.

As the boys looked, they saw that the Antelope had become an object
of singular attention and interest to those on board of the
steamer. Men were on the forecastle, others on the main deck, the