arter. Jack had to wait some time to pick
up his boat, when making all sail, he stood after the schooner, with no
little risk of getting on shore, though Jose Gonzalves affirmed that he
knew every inch of ground. The lead, however, was kept going, and Jack
hoped by keeping as much as possible in the middle of the stream to
avoid such a catastrophe.

The chase had had a good start, and now getting into a reach where the
wind blew right aft, she was able to set studding-sails, when being very
light, she ran through the water even faster than before. She was too
directly ahead to enable Jack to fire "Long Tom" at her, unless he yawed
considerably. He got, however, at last to the end of a reach, which
brought the schooner on his port bow. Needham had been eagerly on the
watch for the opportunity. The shot flew through the lower sails of the
chase, but no spars were carried away, and she stood on, rapidly
increasing her distance from her pursuer.

There was great risk, however, that at any moment the brig might take
the ground. Still Jack felt that it would not do to let the prize,
almost within his grasp, escape; the wind might draw ahead or drop, and
he might take her with the boats. But instead of falling, the breeze
rather freshened and continued to favour the chase.

Dawn at length appeared, and as the light increased, the dangers of the
navigation somewhat lessened. Three more shots were fired from "Long
Tom." The first struck the chase, but what damage it did could not be
ascertained, while the second scarcely touched her, and the third fell
considerably short. It was evidently of no use to fire again. Still as
long as the chase could be kept in sight Jack had hopes of coming up
with her, or at all events of discovering into what creek or passage she
might run. Having the advantage of being able to make short cuts by
channels through which the brig could not venture, she got farther and
farther ahead, till she could only just be discerned in the far distance
up the river, the dark trees appearing almost to close her in. As the
sun rose the wind began to die away, the channel became narrower and
narrower. At last it became perfectly calm, the brig was brought to an
anchor.

"We must not let her escape," cried Jack. "Out boats, and as the wind
will no longer help her we shall find her before long."

Three boats were at once manned, Jack, Terence, and Needham going in
them while Bevan remained in cha