t Peter Poplar."

The spirit with which Peter spoke soon animated both Lyal and me, and
when we were relieved from our watch, and repeated his words, they were
responded to by all the crew, and their great wish was that the frigate
in sight should prove an enemy, that they might show how they would
treat her.

What the officers thought about the matter we could not tell, but as it
grew dark the chase of the schooner was abandoned, studding-sails were
taken in, and the ship was hauled on a wind and stood off-shore. As may
be supposed, no one turned in that night; the hammocks remained in the
nettings, and the ship was got ready for action.

From the way the frigate was steering at nightfall, there could be
little doubt that she was following in our track. Anxiously we looked
out for her lights astern. Hour after hour passed away, and no sign of
her appeared, and we began to fear that she had missed us altogether.

At last a small glimmer was soon twinkling away in the darkness, and by
degrees it grew larger and larger; and then out of the dense obscurity--
for no moon nor stars were visible--there glided a dark towering mass,
like some phantom giant talking over the deep. The drum beat to
quarters, and the crew sprung eagerly to their guns. Every man was
stripped to the waist, round which he had fastened a handkerchief, with
another round his head, and had his cutlass ready to board or to repel
boarders.

In spite of the wish for battle we had all expressed, I could not help
feeling a sensation of awe, if not of dread, creep over me, as we
stood--thus in silence and darkness at our guns, expecting the attack of
an enemy of vastly superior force. The muscular forms of our sturdy
crew could just be distinguished grouped round their guns, the pale
light of the ship's lanterns falling here and there upon them in fitful
flashes, as the officers went their rounds to see that every one was at
his station, or as the boys handed up shot and powder from below. We
were prepared, I say, but still, I believe, the general impression aft
was, that the stranger would prove a friend.

As she drew nearer, the order was given to make the private
night-signal. Up went the lanterns to the mast-head. It was a moment
of breathless suspense. No answering signal of friendship was made in
return. In another instant, however, that unmistakable one of hatred
and defiance--a shot--came whistling over our heads. It was replied to
b