oll's proposal to lengthen our voyage. Two days thus passed
pleasantly away, during which we made but little progress in our voyage.
We might possibly by carrying a greater press of sail have made more,
but we were, as I have observed, in no hurry to bring it to an end.

On the morning of the 14th, as I lay fast asleep in my cot, it having
been my middle watch, I felt my shoulder shaken, while a rough voice
exclaimed--

"There's a sail in sight, Mr Hurry, sir, on the lee-bow. She's the cut
of an American merchantman."

Looking up, I saw the weather-beaten countenance of Nol Grampus bending
over me.

"Keep her away, and make all sail in chase," I answered, springing up;
"I'll be on deck in a trice."

I was not many seconds behind old Nol. The Lady Parker was on our
weather-quarter. Her people had not been so quick-sighted as we were,
but when they saw us making sail, they did the same. Away we both went
in hot pursuit of the stranger, which proved to be a schooner. When she
made us out she apparently took fright, and likewise set every stitch of
canvas she could carry to escape.

There is nothing so exciting as a chase, whether on shore or afloat.
Next to it is a race. Here we had both combined, for we wanted to catch
the enemy and to beat the Lady Parker. The breeze freshened, but the
Pigot looked up to her canvas famously; and sweeter to our ears than any
music just then was the loud gush of the yielding waters as they were
parted by the sharp bows of my little craft.

"You are a darling now!" cried old Nol, as he looked up at the canvas,
ever and anon, to see that each sail drew its best. "Just show us what
your heels can do this time, at all events." The schooner seemed to
understand him, and went faster and faster. We were somewhat distancing
the Lady Parker, and coming up with the chase.

"If the breeze holds, sir, we shall be within gun-shot in half an hour,
and then there'll be but little chance for that small hooker there,"
observed Grampus, chuckling. She was a bigger vessel than the Pigot,
by-the-bye.

"It's just possible that one of the enemy's cruisers may heave in sight,
and spoil our sport before then," said I; "such a thing has occurred
before now, and there are plenty of them in these seas."

"The more call for speed, then, sir," replied Nol. "Hurrah--blow your
best, good breeze, and don't stint us."

In even less time than Grampus had predicted, we got the schooner within
rang