had been given to
make sail, Mr Annesley turned to the skipper and said, with the utmost
composure, "All ready, sir."

"Where is Mr Percival?" inquired Captain Hood.

"Here, sir!" replied Percival, stepping forward and touching his cap.

"Take charge, sir, if you please," said the skipper. "And do not forget
that the safety of the frigate, and our chances of escape from a long
captivity are absolutely in your hands. If we touch the ground and hang
for five minutes, we shall be simply blown out of the water."

"I will do my best, sir," quietly replied Percival taking up a
convenient position for conning the ship.

"I feel sure you will, sir," returned the skipper. "Say when we shall
cut."

"At once, sir, if you please," was the reply.

"Cut, and cut with a will!" said Mr Annesley. Three or four quick
strokes were heard, the frigate's head paid slowly off until her sails
filled, when the head-yards were swung, the fore-and-main-tacks were
boarded, the sheets hauled aft, and every sail trimmed as if for a
sailing-match.

The fact that our movements were closely watched became apparent the
moment that the hands appeared in the rigging to loose the sails, a very
perceptible stir taking place on board the brig, while lights rapidly
made their appearance in the several batteries.

"We are about to have a warm quarter of an hour," remarked the skipper,
who had been keenly noting these sinister indications, while the first
luff was getting the ship under weigh. "Let the crew go to quarters at
once, if you please, Mr Annesley."

"Ay, ay, sir!" was the reply. "If we only had a little more wind--and
there it comes--blow, good breezes, blow! I believe we shall scrape
clear, after all. Beat to quarters!"

A sharp roll of the drum immediately broke in upon the quietude of the
night; there was a momentary bustle--but only momentary the men having
already gone to quarters, as a matter of course--and then all was
profound silence once more on board, save for a gentle rippling sound
beneath the bows and along the sides, and the occasional creak of a
block aloft.

"Say when you wish to tack, Mr Percival," said the first luff,
stationing himself alongside the master's-mate.

"Not yet, sir," said Percival; "the wind is favouring us a little just
now--there it freshens a trifle, and she looks up better than ever.
Keep her a good clean full, quarter-master, and let her go through the
water. I wish there was not quite