d his hands full, and he therefore decided to make the best
of his way to England forthwith. He accordingly hailed Bowen,
requesting him to give the _Aurora's_ stores an overhaul, and to
ascertain whether her provisions and water were sufficient in quantity
to justify them in making a push across the Atlantic. In about an hour
an answer was returned to the effect that not only was there an
abundance of everything, but that the ship herself was more than half
full of a varied and very rich cargo, the spoils, doubtless, from many a
missing vessel. Upon the receipt of this intelligence, orders were at
once given for both ships to fill and make the best of their way to the
northward in company, and by nightfall they were clear of the Caycos
Passage and standing to the northward on a taut bowline under a heavy
press of canvas.

The _Virginie_ and _Aurora_ made an excellent passage across the
Atlantic. They stood to the northward until the Trades were cleared,
when they fell in with fresh westerly winds, which carried them all the
way across; and, as the weather was fine, they had no difficulty in
keeping each other in sight during the whole passage, the two craft
regulating their spread of canvas so that neither should outsail the
other.

The passage was consequently an uneventful one, nothing worthy of note
occurring until they were in the chops of the Channel. Then, indeed, an
adventure befell them, which proved George to have been wise in his
determination that the two vessels should make the voyage in company.

It was the last week in October. They had just struck soundings, when
the two craft ran into a dense, raw fog, which compelled all hands to
seek warmth and comfort in their thickest jackets, and necessitated, as
a matter of prudence, the immediate shortening of sail.

The fog lasted a couple of hours, and when it cleared up the _Aurora_
was discovered about two miles astern of the brig, and a large ship was
at the same moment made out directly ahead. The stranger was hove-to
under single-reefed topsails, with her head to the northward, her
topsail-yards being just visible from the deck. The fact of her being
hove-to in such a position seemed to point to the conclusion that she
was a man-o'-war, and this supposition was confirmed when George took a
look at her through his glass from the fore-topgallant-yard. She was a
frigate, and French apparently, from the cut of her canvas; but of
course it was quit