laden, and requires a breeze to
send her along."

Oldershaw at length persuaded me to go below and turn in, promising to
have me called should anything occur. When I came on deck in the
morning, as the hammocks were piped up, the chase was still some
distance off, running in for the land, which appeared on our
starboard-bow. We followed her pertinaciously, however, though, as the
wind frequently shifted, we did not gain upon her as at first. At
length, however, we saw her run in for a bay with a fort on one side of
it. "We have her safe now," observed Captain Oliver to Mr Schank.
"Before this time to-morrow I hope she will be ours."

Having reconnoitred the bay, and found that the fort was rather too
strong to attack in the day, Captain Oliver stood off the land once
more. It soon became known that a cutting-out expedition was in
contemplation, and the men were busily employed in sharpening their
cutlasses, and looking to the locks of their pistols. From the
appearance of the chase, there was no doubt that she was a merchant
vessel, and it was hoped would offer no great resistance. Every
precaution which prudence could dictate was taken. Four boats were
ordered to be got ready, and towards evening we again stood in for the
land. A bright look-out had been kept all day, so that there was no
risk of the expected prize having made her escape. I greatly longed to
be in one of the boats, but Oldershaw told me there was no use asking,
as he was sure the Captain would not let me go. He, too, was
disappointed, finding that he was not to be one of the party. The
Second and Third Lieutenants, with Pember and the master, commanded the
two boats, and, all things being ready, away they pulled. They had got
to some distance when it was discovered that they had gone without
signal-rockets or port-fires. Oldershaw, on this, volunteered to carry
them in the dinghy, and I begged that I might accompany him.

"Well, look after the boy, and take care he gets into no mischief, Mr
Oldershaw," said the Captain, "and he may then go."

I was delighted. Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady offered to pull the boat,
for, of course, she had no regular crew. Two other men also
volunteered, and away we went. The other boats, however, had got a long
way ahead. We could only just distinguish the dim outline of the bay.
We pulled rapidly on, when, just as we were at the entrance of the
harbour, suddenly, from the deck of the ship, there burst