han a mile off, to the south-west
of us, running in for the land with the wind, which was from the
northward abeam.

"What do you think of her, Jack?" asked Waller, after Stretcher had been
eyeing her narrowly.

"Why, sir, to my mind, those topsails have only been cut by Spanish
fingers; so I make pretty sure she's nothing else than a nigger
passage-vessel."

This announcement made the men give way still more heartily, for, though
the wind was fair, we did not make sail, as we should thereby have been
more quickly seen. Away we pulled, the water bubbling and hissing under
our bows as we cut through it. When we got within a quarter of a mile
of the chase, she saw us, we judged, by hearing a musket fired and
seeing a bullet strike the water near us.

"That proves he has got no guns on board. Give way, my lads!" shouted
Waller.

The men cheered, and bent to their oars with greater vigour. We then
hoisted the British ensign, and fired a musket to make the fellow
heave-to; but, taking no notice of the signal, he held on his course.
The wind continued so light, however, that we were overhauling him fast;
but there were signs, both on the sky and water, that it might again get
up, and afford him a better chance of escaping. At all events, he was
evidently not inclined to give in.

"I must teach the fellow that the British flag is not to be trifled
with," said Waller, taking up his rifle. "I have no compassion on these
slaving villains."

Scarcely had he spoken, when a man, whom we both took to be the captain,
jumped into the netting abaft the main-rigging, and made some very
significant gestures to us to be off; and directly afterwards, seeing
that we continued our course, several of his crew let fly their muskets
at us.

"You've brought it on your own head," exclaimed Waller, loading his
rifle. He fired. The next moment we saw the man fall back upon his
deck. There was then a great deal of shouting on board the schooner;
her helm was put up, and, the breeze freshening, she began to pay off
before the wind. She had not got round, though, before we were under
her quarter.

"Hook on to her main-chains, my lad,--hook on fast!" cried Waller.

Unfortunately the bowman missed his aim; and the schooner, falling off,
brought the stern of our boat in contact with her counter. Without a
moment's thought, Waller had sprung over her low bulwarks, followed by
Stretcher and me. In an instant we were attacked by the