himself his own master, and watched the hull and canvass of the
Terpsichore, as they gradually sunk below the horizon.

The Estelle was a fine vessel, and her cargo not being all composed of
heavy materials, was sufficiently light on the water to sail well. At
the time of her capture, they were, by the reckoning of the frigate,
about fourteen hundred miles from the Lizard. In a fortnight,
therefore, with the wind at all propitious, Newton hoped to set his foot
upon his native land. He crowded all the sail which prudence would
allow; and, with the wind upon his quarter, steered his course for
England.

The men sent with him in the brig consisted of two able seamen, and
three of the gang which had been collected from the gaols and brought
round from the eastward. Captain Northfleet spared the former, as it
was necessary that a part of the crew should be able to steer and
navigate the vessel; the latter, with the sincere hope of never seeing
them again, taking it for granted that they would run away as soon as
they arrived at Plymouth. With the two prisoners, they were sufficient
to work the vessel.

During the first ten days the wind was generally in their favour, and
the brig was not far off from the chops of the Channel, when a low
raking vessel was perceived bearing down upon them from the North West.
Newton had no glass; but as she neared to within three miles, the vessel
wore the appearance of a privateer schooner; but whether an enemy or
not, it was impossible to decide. The Estelle had two small brass guns
on her forecastle; and Newton, to ascertain the nation to which the
privateer belonged, hoisted the French ensign and fired a gun. In a
minute the privateer hoisted English colours; but as she continued to
bear down upon them, Newton, not feeling secure, rove his studding sail
gear, and made all preparation for running before the wind, which he
knew to be the brig's best point of sailing. The privateer had
approached to within two miles, when Roberts, one of the seamen, gave
his decided opinion that she was a French vessel, pointing out the
slight varieties in the rigging and build of the vessel, which would not
have been apparent to any one but a thorough-bred seaman.

"We'd better up helm, and get the sail upon her. If she be French,
she'll soon show herself by firing at us."

Newton was of the same opinion. The brig was put before the wind, and
gradually all her canvass was spread. The privatee