the ship, that counts, my
boy. She has the advantage of being able to sail three feet to our
two; and probably, small as she is, she carries half as many men again
as we do. However, we carry heavy metal, and can give a good account
of ourselves. Those thirty-twos will astonish our friend, if she comes
within range."

The stranger was a large schooner, and the tautness of the spars and
rigging showed that she was in beautiful order. She crossed the line
upon which the merchantman was sailing, some two miles in her rear;
and then, bearing up, followed in her wake.

Charlie stood near the captain, who, instead of watching her, was
sweeping the horizon with his glass. Presently he paused, and gazed
intently at a distant object.

"I thought so," he said to the first officer. "I fancied that fellow
wasn't alone. He would hardly have ventured to try his strength with
us, if he had been. Send a man up to the tops, and let him see what he
can make her out to be. I can only see her topmasts, but I can make
out no yards."

Presently the lookout came down, and reported that the distant vessel
appeared to be a large fore-and-aft schooner, bearing down upon them.

"She will not be up for two hours, yet," the captain said. "It will be
getting dark, then. It is not likely they will engage at night, but
they will keep close, and show their teeth at daybreak."

It soon became known that the belief of the captain was that the
vessel in their wake, and that which could be seen approaching on the
beam, were French privateers; and soon all were preparing, in their
own way, for what might happen. The sailors cleared the decks, and
loosed the guns. The gentlemen went below, and shortly returned
bringing up rifles and fowling pieces. Small arms and cutlasses were
brought up, and piled round the masts.

"Why don't you put on more sail, sir?" Mr. Ashmead, the member of the
council, said to the captain. "My wife, sir, objects to the sound of
firearms, and I must really beg that you will increase your speed. As
it is, we are losing rather than gaining upon that vessel behind. The
duty of the ships of the Company is to try not to fight."

"If they can help it," the captain added quietly. "Not to fight, if
they can help it, Mr. Ashmead. But unfortunately, the choice upon the
present occasion lies with the gentlemen yonder, and not with us. It
is not of the slightest use adding to the sail we carry, for at our
very best speed, those schoone