third
lieutenant made his appearance at the door.

"A vessel, apparently a brig, sir, has just come into view under the
northern shore, evidently having just left the river. She is hugging
the land very closely, keeping well under its shadow, in fact, and has
all the appearance of being anxious to avoid attracting our attention."

The skipper glanced interrogatively at Smellie, who at once responded to
the look by saying:

"The _Black Venus_, without doubt. I expect that our running away with
the _Josefa_ has given them the alarm, and they have determined to slip
out whilst the option remains to them, and take their chance of being
able to give us the slip."

"They shall not do that if I can help it," remarked the skipper
energetically; and, rising to his feet, he gave orders for all hands to
be called forthwith. This broke up the party in the cabin, much to the
gratification of Burnett, who now insisted that both Smellie and I
should retire to our hammocks forthwith, and on no account presume to
leave them again until we had his permission.

I was not very long in undressing, having secured the services of a
marine to assist me in the operation; but before I had gained my hammock
I was rejoined by Keene, a brother mid, whose watch it was below, and
who brought me down the news that the sloop was under weigh and fairly
after the stranger, who, as soon as our canvas dropped from the yards,
had squared away on a westerly course with the wind on her quarter and a
whole cloud of studding-sails set to windward.

What with the excitement of finding myself once more among so many
friends and the pain of my wound it was some time before I succeeded in
getting to sleep that night; and before I did so the _Daphne_ was
rolling like an empty hogshead, showing how rapidly she had run off the
land and into the sea knocked up by the gale.

When I awoke next morning the wind had dropped to a considerable extent,
the sea had gone down, and the ship was a great deal steadier under her
canvas. I was most anxious to leave my hammock and go on deck, but this
Burnett would not for a moment consent to; my wound was very much
inflamed and exceedingly painful, the result, doubtless, of the probing
for the bullet on the night before; and instead of being allowed to turn
out I was removed in my hammock, just as I was, to the sick bay. I was
ordered to keep very quiet, but I managed to learn, nevertheless, that
the chase was still in