the sail he could set ran off before the wind. The frigate had now also
made more sail and closed as rapidly. She came close to us. "Are you
in a sinking state?" asked a voice from the frigate. "I hope not,"
answered Captain Hassall. "Then hold on and we'll come back to you,"
said the voice, which we took to be that of the captain. As I was
watching the frigate through my glass, as she rushed by us, who should I
see standing in the main rigging but my own midshipman brother William!
I waved heartily to him, but he did not make me out. From my usual
sedate manners, my shipmates seeing my gestures thought that I had gone
mad, and was waving to be taken on board the frigate. "She is the
_Phoebe_ frigate," I exclaimed, jumping out of the rigging on deck. "No
fear that we shall be deserted now!" I then explained how I came to
know the name of the frigate. All hands were now set to work to get the
ship to rights. The chase, meantime, became very exciting. "The
captain does not know what a fast pair of heels that privateering
scoundrel possesses, or he would not have much hopes of catching him,"
observed Captain Hassall, as he watched the two vessels. The topsails
of the Frenchman soon disappeared beneath the horizon, and the shades of
evening at length closing down, we were left alone on the world of
waters, into which the heavy swell made us roll our sides till we almost
dipped our bulwarks under--each time showers of spray being sent
dripping off them. The enemy had made several shot-holes in our sides,
and those were now, we found, taking in the water faster than was
altogether agreeable. The carpenter and his mates had indeed hard work
to stop them. I have heard of people's hair turning white in a single
night. I felt as if mine would, for it became doubtful if after all the
ship would swim, from the quantity of water she was taking in. We,
indeed, had reason to regret that we had allowed the frigate to leave
us. At last the morning broke. We eagerly looked round the horizon.
No sail was in sight. Would the ship float another day? The shot-holes
had been stopped, but should bad weather again come on it would be
impossible to say what would be the effect on the vessel. Noon came,
but no sail was in sight. We were afraid that the cunning privateer had
led the frigate a long chase, perhaps among shoals and reefs, and that
she had got on shore, and that we might not see the frigate again.

"More likely