The wind was fresh, and the Caribbee had
spread every inch of her canvas. Levi arranged his plan to cut her off
while she was still nearly half a mile distant from him.

CHAPTER XXIV.

HALF ROUND THE WORLD.

The wind was fresh, and The Starry Flag was under easy sail when the
Caribbee was discovered. Though Levi immediately ordered the foresail
to be hoisted, he saw, with intense chagrin, that the advantage was
against him. He had hauled down the fly, and he hoped, as Dock Vincent
was not on board of the Caribbee, that her people would not recognize
the yacht. The wind was east, and the vessel was beating out, while The
Starry Flag had the wind on the beam.

Levi, trusting that his craft would not be identified, intended to
crowd the Caribbee so as to oblige her to tack, and then, while she was
in stays, to lay alongside, and board her. Mr. C. Augustus Ebenier
stood, with his revolver in his hand, ready to follow his "excellent
captain," who was similarly armed, to the deck of the chase. Three
other men were also detailed to join the party, though Levi did not
expect much, if any, resistance.

The young skipper kept out of sight himself, that he might not be
recognized before the decisive moment came. His heart bounded with
excitement. He saw Bessie standing on the deck with Dock's wife, and a
few moments more would restore her to him, and he should have the proud
satisfaction of sailing up New York Bay, and giving her back to her
father. The steward was ready to do greater wonders than ever before.
Thus far he had done all the hard fighting, and he was prepared to do
it unto the end.

The decisive moment did not come then. The quick eye of Mat Mogmore had
recognized the yacht, and the Caribbee suddenly tacked, and stood away
to the south-east. But Levi did not give up the chase. He had the
weather-gage, and his foresail was now drawing well. In spite of Dock's
brags about the speed of his vessel, the young skipper believed the
yacht would outsail her; but this was only a blind confidence.

The Caribbee was headed directly towards a shoal place called the "Oil
Spot," and as it was dead low tide, Levi thought she could not pass
over it. Farther to the southward was a ledge, with only nine feet of
water on it. But Captain Gauley knew all about the dangers of the
navigation on this part of the coast. He went just to the southward of
the Oil Spot; and, instead of gaining anything, Levi was obliged to
keep