n, whose anxiety induced him to go to the mast-head.

"How is she steering?"

"The same way as we are."

The _Aurora_ was under all possible sail, and when the hands were piped
to dinner, it was thought that they had neared the chase about two
miles.

"This will be a long chase; a stern chase always is," observed Martin to
Gascoigne.

"Yes, I'm afraid so--but I'm more afraid of her escaping."

"That's not unlikely either," replied the mate.

"You are one of Job's Comforters, Martin," replied Gascoigne.

"Then I'm not so often disappointed," replied the mate. "There are two
points to be ascertained; the first is, whether we shall come up with
the vessel or lose her--the next is, if we do come up with her, whether
she is the vessel we are looking for."

"You seem very indifferent about it."

"Indeed I am not: I am the oldest passed midshipman in the ship, and the
taking of the frigate will, if I live, give me my promotion, and if I'm
killed, I shan't want it. But I've been so often disappointed, that I
now make sure of nothing until I have it."

"Well, for your sake, Martin, I will still hope that the vessel is the
one we seek, that we shall not be killed, and that you will gain your
promotion."

"I thank you, Easy--I wish I was one that dared hope as you do."

Poor Martin! he had long felt how bitter it was to meet disappointment
upon disappointment. How true it is that hope deferred maketh the heart
sick! and his anticipations of early days, the buoyant calculations of
youth, had been one by one crushed, and now, having served his time
nearly three times over, the reaction had become too painful, and, as he
truly said, he dared not hope: still his temper was not soured but
chastened.

"She has hauled her wind, sir," hailed the second-lieutenant from the
topmast cross-trees.

"What think you of that, Martin?" observed Jack.

"Either that she is an English frigate, or that she is a vessel
commanded by a very brave fellow, and well manned."

It was sunset before the _Aurora_ had arrived within two miles of the
vessel; the private signal had been thrown out, but had not been
answered, either because it was too dark to make out the colours of the
flags, or that these were unknown to an enemy. The stranger had hoisted
the English colours, but that was no satisfactory proof of her being a
friend; and just before dark she had put her head towards the _Aurora_,
who had now come stem down to her. The sh