the trim corvette went dashing forward amid
the dancing seas, which rose up, foam-crested, on either side.

"Hurrah!" exclaimed Terence, "she is ours!" At that moment the squall
had reached the chase, and away flew her studding-sails, the booms
breaking off at the irons. Still she held on her course. The corvette
was now rapidly gaining on her; the attempt was made to rig another
lower studding-sail, but that also was carried away almost as soon as
set, and in less than half an hour the corvette had got her well within
range of her long guns; but Murray refrained from firing as long as he
found that he was gaining on her.

"It is useless to run the risk of injuring her spars," he observed to
Adair; "she will haul down her colours when she finds that she has no
hope of getting away."

"Those fellows are up to all sorts of dodges, and will make every effort
to escape," said Terence.

"We will take in the studding-sails at all events, and be ready for him
should he haul his wind," said Murray. The light canvas was taken in
with a rapidity, which must have astonished the crew of the slaver.
Just, however, as the operation was about to be commenced, she had put
her helm to port, and braced her yards sharp up on the starboard tack;
but a couple of shot from the corvette, one of which struck her
starboard quarter, showed her that she was too late; and fearing that
other iron missiles might overtake her, she immediately hauled down her
colours. The corvette's topgallant sails and royals having been handed,
she also was brought to the wind and hove-to on the weather beam of the
prize. Murray now directed Adair to go on board the brigantine with a
midshipman and ten hands, and to carry her to Rio, unless, from a
scarcity of provisions or want of water, he should find it necessary to
put in to Bahia, or any other neighbouring port on the Brazilian coast.

Adair and Desmond were quickly ready with their carpet-bags, as were
Snatchblock and nine other men with their bundles, and the boat which
had, meantime, been lowered, pulled off for the prize, although there
was some sea on; yet as she was low in the water, she was easily
boarded. She proved to be the _Donna Maria_, a noted Brazilian slaver
which had often before escaped capture. According to Murray's
directions, Adair sent back the captain and officers and some of her
ill-looking crew, who were likely to prove troublesome if left in her.

He found that, though onl