ould go very hard if that sloop of war wasn't out of
sight at daybreak to-morrow morning, and even if she wasn't I don't
think she'd overtake us again."

"I feel sure you are wrong, Captain Chubb," said the doctor. "I repeat;
my papers and the grant I have had from his Majesty's Government will, I
feel sure, be sufficient to protect my schooner and crew from any action
in the way of pressing from one of his Majesty's ships. You will have
the goodness to obey the signal, and wait and see what follows."

"You mean to risk it, then, sir?"

"I mean to do my duty as a subject of his Majesty the King," said Uncle
Paul gravely.

"Very well, sir. I am captain of this schooner, but I am your servant,
and it is my duty to obey your orders," said the captain, in his
gruffest tones; and he walked heavily to the man at the wheel.

The time had been short, but too long for the patience of the
man-of-war, for before the skipper had opened his mouth to give his
order to the steersman, another puff of white smoke darted from the
sloop's bows, there was a heavy thud, and a cannon ball came skipping
over the heaving sea like a flat stone thrown by a clever boy across the
waters of a pond--dick, duck and drake fashion--while a thrill ran
through all on board as they watched the shot pass right in front of the
schooner's bows and give its final splash as it disappeared far away.

Then the captain spoke, the stem of the schooner gradually bore round,
with the sails beginning to shiver as she faced more and more to the
wind, and finally flapping to and fro; but almost at once as the spokes
turned rapidly through Isaac Gregg's hands, a deep low murmur ran
through the crew, while a pang-like spasm seemed to shoot upward to
cause a choky sensation in Rodd Harding's throat.

"Silence there, my lads," said the skipper sternly, and Rodd noticed the
gloomy look upon his countenance as he turned his back to the doctor and
walked to the side to stand gazing at the distant ship.

Many minutes had not elapsed before Rodd, who had turned his back to the
men so as not to see their faces, and to hide his own, saw through the
telescope he was busily using, something moving at the side of the
sloop--a something which glided down her side and which was soon
afterwards succeeded by a faint glitter as of the movement of rays.

Then there was a splash, followed by the regular dipping of oars which
seemed to throw up so much golden spray on either sid