"Ah!" said the skipper, "yes; that is, after all, the only feasible explanation of his disappearance.  He is neither ahead nor astern nor to seaward of us; therefore he must be hidden somewhere inshore.  Mr Galway,"--to the first lieutenant--"we will shorten sail, if you please, with the ship's head off the land, remaining in sight of the coast until daylight, when we shall perhaps be able to discover the hiding-place of that brigantine."