der
topsails, jib, and spanker, with her courses in the brails. A single
glance at her was sufficient to assure us that she was a man-o'-war--a
frigate--on her cruising-ground; and that her people were broad awake
was speedily made manifest, for we had scarcely made her out when she
shifted her helm and bore up for us, letting fall her courses and
setting her topgallant-sails and royals as she did so.

The discovery of this stranger was immediately productive of a very
considerable amount of anxiety among us all, for she was a powerful
vessel, and, if an enemy, likely to prove an exceedingly formidable
antagonist. And there was very little doubt among us that she was an
enemy; the cut of her square canvas being unmistakably French. Such was
also Captain Winter's opinion; for he presently ran down under our stern
and hailed me, stating his suspicions, and directing me to bear up and
make the best of my way to leeward, while he and the _Dolphin_ would
endeavour to cover my retreat and distract the stranger's attention
until I had got clear off. His orders were that I was to run to leeward
until out of sight of the Frenchman, and then to haul my wind on the
starboard tack, when he would do his utmost to rejoin me; but that, in
the event of his failing to do so, I was to make the best of my way home
without wasting time in an endeavour to find him.

I lost no time in obeying his instructions, instantly wearing the
Indiaman round and crowding sail to leeward. The frigate had by this
time neared us to within seven miles; and the moment that we in the
Indiaman bore up, she set studding-sails on both sides in pursuit, while
the brigantine and the _Dolphin_ stretched away to windward to intercept
her. There was scarcely a shadow of doubt now in my mind that the
stranger was a Frenchman; for although her studding-sails were set with
a very commendable promptitude and alacrity, there was wanting in the
operation a certain element of smartness, very difficult to describe,
yet perfectly discernible to the eye of a seaman, which I have observed
to be almost the exclusive attribute of the British man-o'-war. The
difference, indeed, is so marked that, as in the present case, it has
frequently been possible to decide the nationality of a ship merely by
the way in which she is manoeuvred, and long before a sight of her
bunting has been obtained. The conviction that the noble craft to
windward was an enemy caused the greatest con