re apt to be dangerous
when provoked, as he will pretty certainly be when he discovers that you
are following and watching him. Therefore, be on your guard against
him, or he may play you one of those ghastly tricks that the slavers are
apt to play upon the slave-hunters when the latter chance to fall into
their hands. In my opinion you are rather too young and inexperienced
to be sent alone upon such a job."

"Nevertheless," said I, "one must acquire one's experience in some way
before one can possess it; and I suppose there is no way in which a
young officer can learn so quickly as by being placed in a position of
responsibility. After all, there is no danger in this forthcoming
expedition, so far as I can see; it is but to follow and keep an eye
upon a certain ship, and do what I can to promote her capture. But I
will keep your warning in mind, never fear. And now I suppose I must
say good-bye; for here comes Parkinson, the captain's steward, doubtless
to say that my instructions are ready."

It was even as I had anticipated; Parkinson was the bearer of a message
summoning me to the skipper's cabin, where my written instructions,
having first been read over to me, in order that I might be afforded an
opportunity to seek explanation of any doubtful points, were placed in
my hands, and I was dismissed; the skipper's final order to me being to
carry on and, if possible, overtake the _Virginia_, thereafter keeping
her in sight at all costs until the remainder of my instructions had
been carried out. Ten minutes later I was once more on the deck of the
_Dolphin_, and giving orders to make sail, the signal to part company
having been hoisted aboard the _Eros_ the moment that my boat left her
side.

Having braced up on the same course as that steered by the _Virginia_
when last seen, and crowded upon the brigantine every square inch of
canvas that her spars would bear, I sent a hand aloft to the royal yard
to take a look round and see whether he could discover any sign of the
chase; but, as I had more than suspected, she had completely vanished;
and my first task was now to find her again. To do this, two things
were necessary; the first being that we should follow precisely the same
course that she had done; and the second, that we should sail fast
enough to overtake her. I therefore ordered the boatswain at once to
get up preventer backstays, fore and aft, to enable our spars to carry a
heavy press of sail; and