Stopped on the Long Stretch by John Arthur Barry

Hatchard And Jones accepted Charles Maitland's offer, asked for three months' charter-money in advance, and eventually took two, thinking they might wait a long time and not do as well. Also, Frank found nearly all the old crowd of the Albacore ready and willing for another enterprise, even to run contraband of war to Cuban insurgents again, if necessary; although, on that trip, bullets had been cheaper than cigars. Of course, Frank told them nothing; only let drop hints of sealing in closed waters, at which sport, as at so many others of a more or less lawless flavour, the Maitlands were no novices.

-"Well, we've got the Basilisk," said Charles, as the brothers met next morning at breakfast. "And that's the main thing; although there's some ticklish business to fix up yet. Good girl!" he suddenly exclaimed, opening a long, yellow envelope. "She's evidently on the qui vive. Let's see what she says."