He was
as ready as ever for any daring exploit, but he had no desire to throw
his life away if he could help it; he had a fancy that there was
something worth living for. The good Lord Collingwood so highly
approved of the proceedings of the "Imperious," that he sent her back,
after her return to Malta, to continue the same sort of employment.

On the passage, when not far off Minorca, a large felucca was sighted,
which, from her manoeuvres, was evidently anxious to avoid the frigate.
Lord Claymore had received directions from the admiral to look out for a
craft of this description, which was known to be a pirate, and to have
committed innumerable atrocities. Chase was instantly made. The
felucca on seeing this, and apprehending danger, rigged out her tall
tapering lateen sails, wing-a-wing, as it is called, one on each side.
She appeared like a graceful sea-bird, and did her utmost to escape.
She sailed so well that there seemed a great possibility that she might
effect this. The "Imperious," like some huge bird of prey, followed in
her wake, resolved on her destruction. As yet the felucca was beyond
the range of the frigate's bow-chasers. One shot from those long guns
striking her masts or slender spars, would effectually have stopped her
flight. Over the blue waters she flew; the officers and crew of the
frigate were watching her.

"She has an evil conscience, or she would not fly so fast," observed
Glover.

"Very likely; but like other rogues, she will escape the punishment she
deserves," answered Hardman. "The wind is falling, that is in her
favour."

"Not if it fall altogether; we may take her with the boats," remarked
Morton. "There is every sign of a calm."

"She has sweeps, and it is extraordinary the rate at which these craft
can pull," observed the pertinacious Hardman. "She has every chance of
getting away from us."

"Hardman is a wise fellow. He is always expecting blanks that he may
enjoy the prizes the more when they turn up," said the surgeon.

"He loses the pleasure of anticipation, though," said Morton. "That is
too often greater than the reality."

"Ah, but I am saved the disappointment of the reverse," answered the
second-lieutenant. "See our courses are hanging against the mast, and
the felucca has lost the wind altogether. She has got out her sweeps,
and off she goes like a shot."

Just then the captain called Morton. "We must take that fellow in the
boats. Call away the