e wanted to have a talk to him.
This was done; but no notice was taken aboard the chase; the next shot
therefore was let drive slap at her, care being taken to fire high, with
the result that the shot passed through the head of her fore-topsail and
only very narrowly missed the topmast-head. This seemed to rather shake
the nerve of her skipper, for the next moment her studdingsails
collapsed and came down altogether, regular man-o'-war fashion--showing
her to be strongly manned; but instead of rounding-to and backing her
main-yard, as we thought she intended, she braced sharp up on the port
tack and endeavoured to escape to windward. But we were every whit as
smart with our studdingsails as she was, and instantly hauled our wind
after her, she being now about one point on our lee bow. For the next
hour we held grimly on, firing no more meanwhile, but by the end of that
time we had neared her sufficiently to risk another shot, which, aimed
with the utmost care by the gunner himself, struck the main-topmast of
the chase, sending everything above the main-yard over the side to
leeward. This settled the matter, and the next moment the beautiful
craft hove-to.

"Mr Fortescue," said the skipper, "you know more about yonder vessel
than any of the rest of us, therefore you shall take the second cutter,
with her crew fully armed, and proceed on board to take possession."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered I; and running down the poop ladder I gave the
order for the boatswain to pipe the second cutter away while I went
below to buckle on my sword and thrust a pair of pistols into my belt.
By the time that the boat's crew were mustered, and the boat made ready
for lowering, we were hove-to within biscuit-toss of the other vessel's
weather quarter, and were able to read with the naked eye the words
"Virginia, New Orleans," legibly painted across the turn of her counter.

"D'ye see that, Mr Fortescue?" questioned the skipper, pointing to the
inscription. "I hope there is no mistake as to the accuracy of your
information; because, if there is, you know, we shall have got ourselves
into a rather awkward mess by firing upon and winging that craft!"

"Never fear, sir," answered I confidently; "I know the secret of that
trick, as you shall see very shortly."

"Very well," said he, "off you go. And as soon as you have secured
possession let me know, and I will send the carpenter and a strong gang
aboard to help you to clear away the wreck