ound was put before
the wind, the chase was eagerly looked for; she was seen running before
the wind for the northeast. Her bearings being taken, the corvette
steered directly for her, but darkness, which had been rapidly coming
on, now hid her from sight, and even the most sanguine gave up all hopes
of finding her again. Still Murray determined to keep after her as
light as she was; he was convinced that with a strong wind blowing she
would continue before it.

The first watch was set, the watch below turned in, and many a grumble
was heard at their ill success. Adair, who was officer of the watch,
was walking the deck, with Desmond by his side. The wind still blowing
fresh, he had his eye aloft on the spars, ready to shorten sail should
it increase. The sea, however, was tolerably smooth; a few stars only
could be seen among the clouds which passed rapidly across the sky. The
night was therefore rather darker than usual. The wind whistled shrilly
in the rigging, and Desmond declared that he could hear strange sounds
coming across the waters. A sharp lookout was, of course, kept ahead,
and hopes were still entertained that the chase might possibly be again
sighted. Snatchblock, who was on the forecastle, hailed in a loud,
sharp voice, "Sail ahead! the chase! the chase! That's her! No doubt
about it."

Adair and Desmond hurried forward, but by the time they reached the
forecastle no sail was to be seen. Snatchblock, however, was positive
that he had not been mistaken. He rubbed his eyes in vain, and peered
into the gloom. She was certainly not visible. Adair, who had returned
aft, was pacing the deck, when suddenly a tremendous shock was felt. He
and others on deck were nearly thrown off their legs, and a cry arose of
"We are on shore! we are on shore!" The watch below came tumbling up on
deck, fully believing that the ship had struck. One of the hands
seizing a leadline, sprang into the chains and hove it.

"What induced you to do that?" asked Adair.

"I thought we had struck on a rock, sir," was the answer.

"You found no bottom?"

"No, sir."

"We must have run over the chase! Heaven be merciful to the poor
creatures!" exclaimed Murray, who unperceived had just come on deck.
"She must have attempted to haul her wind, to alter her course, and,
being too much lightened, capsized."

Desmond and several others who had run aft declared they saw several
objects, like the heads of human beings, f