y dead to leeward, while the
mistico was directly to windward, though it was a question how far she
would venture to chase the boat, or whether she would attempt to carry
her off within range of the brig's guns.

As long as the mistico could keep well to windward, and out of gun-shot,
from the closeness with which she could lay to the wind, and her fast
sailing, she might carry off her prey, if such was her object, even
before the eyes of those on board the English ship, without their being
able to employ any means to prevent her so doing.

"Ah, the rascals know what they are about," said the master, as he
watched the Greek vessel through his glass. "She is one of those
piratical craft belonging to the nest of scoundrels on the island there,
depend upon it; and they were trying to get hold of the boat, or to run
her down, which they are just as likely to do as not, and then they'll
be off again in the wind's eye, like a shot, before we can get up to
them, and snug inside their rocks."

"I suspect you are right, master," said Saltwell. "And I cannot help
thinking, also, that the boat has some of our friends on board. Would
to Heaven the breeze would veer a few more points to the southward, and
enable us to lay up to her before the mistico reaches her."

"I don't see what more we can do to go along faster," said the master.
"Our canvas never stood better, nor did the brig ever make more way
through the water with the same wind."

"The mistico draws very fast on the boat, and, by Jove, the villains are
firing at her," exclaimed Saltwell, who had been again eagerly watching
the chase through his glass. "Still she bravely holds her own. Oh,
there's no doubt of her having our friends on board. See that the guns
are ready, and cover her as soon as we get near enough; but we must take
care not to hit the boat instead of the mistico."

The boat was now about two miles off, and the mistico threes. The
former had only a sort of lug set; and, as well as could be seen at that
distance, there was but the one person on board, who steered. If there
were any others, they had wisely stowed themselves away at the bottom of
the boat, to be more out of the reach of the enemy's shot. The breeze,
though fresh, was not too strong to permit of her carrying her whole
sail, and she flew rapidly before it; but the mistico went still faster,
and, as Bill Hawkins, the captain of the fore-top, observed--

"The little one looks for all