attle ship has put me in
a very awkward predicament--I really am puzzled. Fighting is of no use,
and yet run away I will not, if I can possibly help it."

Now, I had been studying the chart, and had made up my own mind how I
should have acted under the circumstances, had I been in Captain
Delmar's position. The great point was, to give him my ideas without
appearing to offer advice; I therefore replied, "We have one advantage,
at all events sir; we have been cruising so long that we are flying
light--I don't think we draw sixteen feet water."

"Yes, that may give us the heels of her in light winds, certainly,"
replied the captain.

"I think she cannot draw less than twenty-six or twenty-seven feet of
water, sir," continued I, to put him on the right scent, "which, on this
coast, will be a great advantage. I think, sir, when I was down below,
I measured from soundings to soundings, and the water is so shallow, and
deepens so gradually, that there is a distance of four miles between
seventeen feet and twenty-eight feet water."

I took up the compass so as to take in the two soundings laid down in
the chart, and then measuring the distance, showed that my assertion was
true. The captain said nothing for a little while. At last I perceived
a smile on his lips. "Tell the officer of the watch to lower down the
cutter, Mr Keene. Go on board of the prizes, and tell them, in
addition to their present orders, to follow us, that in case of an
enemy, they are to run as close in shore as the water will allow them,
and drop their anchors."

"Aye, aye, sir," replied I, leaving the cabin.

This order satisfied me that the captain perceived what I would suggest,
which was, that if we once got in shore and in shallow water we might
laugh at the line-of-battle ship, which, in all probability would not be
able to get near enough to reach us with her guns; or, if she attempted
it, she would run on shore, and then we should have the best of it.

As soon as I had given the orders to the prize-masters and returned on
board, the boat was hoisted up, and all sail made for the land. At
twelve o'clock we sounded, and found ourselves in nine-fathom water, by
which we calculated we were about thirty miles from the land. I hardly
need say that a most careful lookout was kept up, that we might not fall
in with our formidable adversary.

At one o'clock the moon rose, and I, having the middle watch, surveyed
the horizon on every side,