CHAPTER IX

THE MASTER'S GUEST "A sail! A sail!" The seas had somewhat abated and the Rose of Devon was standing on her course under reefed mainsail when the cry sounded. The vessel they sighted lay low in the water; and since she had one tall mast forward and what appeared to be a lesser mast aft they thought her a ketch. But while they debated the matter the faint sound of guns fired in distress came over the sea; and loosing the reef of their mainsail and standing directly toward the stranger, the men in the Rose of Devon s…