ut a man on the lookout, to give
him notice if any signal was made to him from the brig; which was a
quarter of a mile ahead of him, the polacre's topgallant sails
having been lowered after the main-topsail had been hoisted, as it
was found that, with all sail set, she sailed considerably faster
than the brig.

Presently the man came aft, and reported that the captain was
waving his hat from the taffrail.

"We had better get up the main-topgallant sail, Brown, and run up
to her," Bob said.

The sail was soon hoisted and, in a quarter of an hour, they were
alongside the brig.

"That craft sails like a witch," Captain Lockett said, as they came
abreast of him.

"Yes, sir, she seems very fast."

"It is a pity she is rigged as she is," the captain said. "It is an
outlandish fashion. If she were barque rigged, I should be tempted
to shift on board her.

"We will leave the barque alone, at present, Mr. Repton. Our
curiosity must keep a bit. I don't want to lose any of this breeze.
We will keep right on, as long as it lasts. If it drops, we will
overhaul her."

The barque was the slowest craft of the three, and Joe Lockett had
every stitch of canvas set, to enable him to keep up with the
others. At noon, a large craft was seen, coming off from the land.
Bob examined her with the telescope, and then handed the glass to
Brown.

"She is a frigate," the sailor said. "It's the same that blazed
away at us, yesterday. It's the Brilliant, I think."

"You are sure she is the same that chased us, yesterday?"

"Quite sure."

Captain Lockett was evidently of the same opinion, as no change was
made in the course he was steering.

"We may as well speak the captain again," Bob said, and the polacre
closed again with the brig.

"Brown says that is the same frigate that fired at us, yesterday,
Captain Lockett," Bob said, when they were within hailing distance.

"Yes, there is no doubt about that. I don't want to lose time, or I
would stand out and try our speed with her."

"Why, sir?"

"Because I am afraid she will want to take some of our hands. Those
frigates are always short of hands. Still, she may not, as we have
got twelve men already away in a prize, and ten in each of these
craft."

"I don't think you need be uneasy, sir. I know the captain of the
Brilliant, and all the officers. If you like, I will keep the
polacre on that side, so that they will come up to us first; and
will go on board, and speak to the c