I've been after dreaming, Mr Terence, that that craft is the _Liffy_,
and that we were again on board her, as merry as crickets," said Larry,
coming to my side.

"But dreams, they say, go by contraries," I answered. "It would have
been better not to have dreamed that."

"Shure, thin, I wish that I had dreamed that we had run her out of
sight," he answered.

Soon after the wind got up, and was soon blowing as freshly as on the
day before. The Frenchmen's spirits once more rose. Larry's and mine
fell. The big ship, however, continued about the same distance off; but
as long as she did not gain on us, our captors did not mind. At length
it seemed to me that we were actually drawing ahead. Perhaps we might
be leading our pursuer further out of her course than she wished to go,
and she would give up the chase. The Frenchmen, from their remarks,
seemed to think so.

Mid-day arrived; an observation was taken. I found that we were in the
latitude of the Virgin Islands, still a long way from Guadaloupe. When
once among the islands, we should very easily escape during the night.
Dubois and La Touche were congratulating themselves, when the look-out
aloft shouted, "Several sail in sight to the south-east!"

La Touche, immediately on hearing this, went to the masthead. I should
have liked to have followed him, eager to know what they were. He said
nothing till he came down. I then saw by the way he spoke to Dubois
that he considered them to be enemies. After a short consultation the
helm was put to starboard, and the brig headed more to the north; the
yards were braced up, though the studding-sails were still set. In my
eagerness to ascertain what the strangers were, I sprang aloft without
waiting to ask leave of Dubois. He did not, however, call me down. As
I got to the topgallant masthead I looked eagerly to the southward, and
I made out what I took to be a large fleet standing to the eastward,
while here and there ships were scattered about, which I took to be
frigates. I had no doubt that Dubois concluded they were English, and
had therefore no wish to run in among them. We had heard before we left
Jamaica that Sir George Rodney was expected out to join Sir Samuel Hood,
and I had little doubt but that the fleet in sight was that of either
the one or the other of those admirals. Whether the brig would escape
them or not was doubtful, and I expected every instant to see either a
frigate or corvette coming