frigates of
the same size as their own and the _Venus_; but should they prove much
larger, they were equally ready to engage them.

Still, hour after hour went by, and no enemy appearing, they began to
fear that the Frenchmen would get into port before they could be
overtaken. At length, just before the sun reached the horizon, his rays
fell on the royals and topgallantsails of two ships right ahead. As the
sun sank lower they were again lost to view, but their appearance
revived the hopes of all on board. It was not likely that they would
alter their course during the night, and it was hoped, therefore, that
before morning they would be overtaken. It was not likely that the
_Thisbe_ and _Venus_, being in the shadow, would have been perceived.

"The chances are that we shall be upon them in the dark," said Jack to
Tom; "and we'll surprise them, I've a notion. The captain thinks so, or
he wouldn't have given the order to prepare for action."

"I would rather fight in daylight," said Tom, "and I hope they'll manage
to keep ahead till then."

Jack laughed, for he suspected that Tom would rather not fight at all.

The watch below were ordered to turn in as usual, but most of the
officers kept on deck, too eager for the work to be able to sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

ACTION BETWEEN THE "THISBE" AND A FRENCH FRIGATE.

Rayner--for such he ought now to be called--who was in the middle watch,
was standing forward on the look-out, and, as may be supposed, he did
not allow an eye to wink. Several times he thought that he could see
two dark objects rising above the horizon, but his imagination might
have deceived him, for they, at all events, grew no larger. When his
watch was over, he came aft into the midshipmen's berth, where several
of his messmates were collected. He might have turned in, for the night
was drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight. He, as well
as others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table.

They were aroused from their uncomfortable slumbers by the boatswain's
call, piping the hammocks up, and on coming on deck the first thing they
saw were the two ships they had been chasing all night directly ahead,
their topsails just rising above the water. Their hopes revived that
they would come up with them before the day was many hours older; still
the strangers were a long way out of range of their bow chasers.

As the sun rose and shone on their own canvas they knew tha