been as often
replaced by others. When Mr Schank heard from home, he never failed to
send for me or my mother, to give us an account of the Little Lady;
indeed, Mr Bramston and others, as well as our Captain, took a warm
interest in her, and always seemed glad to hear that she was going on
well. Altogether, we were looked upon as a very happy and fortunate
ship. However, a dark reverse was to come.

We were returning from Malta, and had run some way along the coast of
Italy, when the look-out from the mast-head discovered a sail on the
lee-bow. It was just daybreak. The sun rising over the distant land,
which lay like a blue line on our starboard side, shed his beams on the
upper sails of the stranger. The frigate was kept away a little, and
all sail made in chase. We continued standing on for a couple of hours,
when the wind drew more aft, and with studden-sails rigged on both sides
we glided rapidly over the smooth water, gaining considerably on the
chase. She must have discovered us, for she was now seen to rig out
studden-sails, and to make every attempt to escape. She was pronounced
to be a large polacca ship; and from the way she kept ahead of us, it
was very evident she was very fast. This made us more eager than ever
to come up with her. The general opinion was that she was a
merchantman, very likely richly-laden, and would undoubtedly become an
easy prize. Our people were in high spirits, making sure that they were
about to add a good sum to their already fair amount of prize-money. I
cannot say that these thoughts added much to my pleasure, considering
the very small share which would fall to my lot, but my father would
probably be very much the richer. In those days, it was no uncommon
thing for a seaman to return from a cruise with a couple of hundred
pounds in his pocket; and of course, under those circumstances, the
share even of a warrant officer would be very considerable. Mr Schank,
I doubt not, was thinking of the many comforts he would be able to
afford his family at home; and Mr Bramston, who had another reason for
wishing to add to his worldly store, was hoping that he might be able to
splice his dear Mary all the sooner, and leave her better provided for
when he had to come away again to sea.

Hour after hour passed by. There was the chase still ahead and though
we had gained considerably on her, still there were many probabilities
of her escaping. The fear was that we might not