gh good
drubbing."

It appeared, however, as though the fortuitous combination of
circumstances hinted at by Captain Leicester was not to be; for before
long it became evident that the schooner, notwithstanding the freshening
breeze and the increasing sea, was slowly but steadily gaining on the
barque. But "a stern chase is a long chase," and the schooner, while
repairing damages, had not only been left astern, but had also been
compelled to run a considerable distance to leeward. So that, when the
sun set, and the short brilliant tropical twilight faded out of the sky,
she was still some six miles distant, broad on the _Aurora's_ lee
quarter.

With the setting of the sun there came a still further freshening of the
breeze, laying the barque down upon her side until her lee
covering-board was buried, and the water, spouting up through the
scuppers, was washing the deck on the lee-side almost up to the coamings
of the main-hatchway. The wind was making weird, wild music as it swept
through the tautly-strained rigging; and the topgallant and royal-masts
were whipping and bending like fishing-rods with every pitch and 'scend
of the ship, while the straining canvas, towering away aloft toward the
dusky heavens, stood as firm and steady as though moulded in iron. The
watch below were in their hammocks, enjoying the repose which they had
earned by a day of unusual exertion; and the watch on deck were also, by
George's express command, snatching such a weazel-like sleep as could be
obtained consistently with the holding of themselves ready for a prompt
call in case of emergency.

The night wore slowly on; the young moon, which had been hanging like a
silver crescent low in the western sky, sank beneath the horizon; and
the spangled heavens became almost wholly obscured by the broadening
masses of dusky vapour which swept rapidly athwart them. There was
light enough, however, to render the schooner easily distinguishable
with the aid of the night-glass; and George, after attentively watching
her for more than half an hour, came to the conclusion that the _Aurora_
was at length holding her own.

"We will clew up and furl the royals, if you please Mr Ritson," said he
to the officer of the watch; "I am getting uneasy about those sticks;
and it would be most unfortunate to lose them just now. I believe we
shall do just as well without the royals as with them in this fresh
breeze. How is she steering? Pretty easily?" to