e looks of the Dons,
and I shouldn't be surprised if that craft is the _Caterina_ herself; if
so, she will be trying to take some of our prizes; and may be have a
slap at us, and I think it will be best to get these gentlemen out of
the way, as quickly as possible."

Jack agreed with Needham, and going up to Don Lopez he observed--

"I am sorry to inconvenience you, but I have to request that you and
your companions will go below, and not return on deck till you receive
my permission."

The Don and his friends looked somewhat angry at hearing this, and
seemed inclined to disobey, but a dozen stout seamen coming aft showed
them that Jack was in earnest, and they, uttering maledictions on his
head, were hurried below.

The sun had now reached the horizon, when the stranger came within
gunshot, still without showing her colours. Jack had ordered the three
schooners to keep close together under his stern. He now fired a gun
ahead of the stranger of which she took no notice, but continued her
course, intending apparently to get to windward, so as to be able to
bear down at any time she might think fit on the captured slavers.

"She has guessed what has happened, sir," observed Needham, "and hopes
during the night to have a chance of cutting off one of the prizes or
all of them; but she can't quite make up her mind to attempt it in
daylight."

"We must keep a bright lookout and prevent her doing that same,"
answered Jack. "Give her another shot from Long Tom, and we will see if
that has a better effect than the first."

The stranger took no notice further than "hauling her wind," so as to
increase her distance from the brig-of-war. Jack guessed that her
intention was to draw him away, if possible, from his prizes, so that
she might have a better chance of taking off one of them during the
night; he had no fears of the result of a fight should she venture to
attack him; at the same time, under the circumstances, he doubted
whether it would be wise for him to become the assailant.

As the sun went down the stranger was still seen holding her former
position on the weatherbow of the _Supplejack_. It was very provoking
to be thus bearded, and he earnestly wished for daylight that he might
have a better chance of success in attacking the daring craft, for he
had at length made up his mind to bring her to action, and of course to
capture her. His greatest difficulty, however, would be, should he
succeed, in manning