this craft would make her belong, there was so much that was English
in the hull and raking step of her masts, while the rigging, and the
way in which she was managed, smacked so strongly of the
Mediterranean that her nation also might have puzzled one familiar
with such a subject. The lofty spread of canvas, the jib, flying-jib
and fore-staysail, that are rarely worn save by the larger class of
merchantmen, gave rather an odd appearance to a craft that could
count hardly more than an hundred tons measurement.

Besides her fore and mainsail, and those already named, the
schooner, for so we must call her, carried two heavy, but graceful
topsails upon her fore and mainmasts, and even a jigger sail or
spanker and gaff above it, on a slender spur rigged from the quarter
deck. Altogether the schooner with her various appurtenances,
resembled such a yacht as some of the English noblemen sail in the
channel and about the Isle of Man in the sporting season.

The schooner was not unobserved from the shore, and a careful
observer could have noticed a group of persons that were evidently
regarding her with no common interest from the landing just above
the harbor of Anapa.

"That must be the craft that has been so long expected," said one of
the group, "and we had best get our girls ready at once to put on
board before the morning."

"This comes in a bad time, for the steamer should be here before
nightfall."

"That's true; as she doesn't seem inclined to run in too close,