horough good breakfast, with
plenty of hot coffee--which, let me say, I have found infinitely more
comforting and refreshing than spirits, after long exposure to wet or
cold, or both combined.

After the setting of the moon we had lost sight of the guarda-costa
until dawn once more betrayed her whereabouts. When first seen she was
hull-down and about three points on our lee quarter, still under her two
lugs and jib. So far, this was satisfactory; we had walked fairly away
from her in her own weather, and Giaccomo was in ecstasies.

"Ah!" he chuckled, "Monsieur Leroux would have almost forgiven us for
running away with his `Mouette,' had he been here to see what a shameful
beating she has given the `Vigilant.' The story is sure to leak out
through some of the lateener's people, and poor old Lieutenant Durand,
who commands her, will not dare to show himself ashore at Ajaccio, he
will be so laughed at."

But the guarda-costa's people had no idea of tamely accepting their
defeat as final. No sooner was it light enough for them to fairly make
us out, than they shifted their sails, substituting single-reefed
lateens for the lugs, and taking in their storm-jib out of the way.
Their increased spread of canvas soon told a tale, for before half an
hour had passed it became evident that they were gaining upon us, going
faster through the water, that is; but she did not appear to weather on
us much, if at all. The fact that the "Vigilant" was overhauling us,
however, gave me very little uneasiness, for I calculated that, as we
were both then sailing, it would take her quite three hours to get
within gunshot of us, and probably another half-hour before there would
be much probability of her hitting us, and by that time I expected we
should be within four hours' sail of San Fiorenzo, where I fully
expected to find the old "Juno," and probably a few more of our own
ships; and I thought it very doubtful whether the Frenchmen would keep
up the chase so far as that, for fear of running into a trap and being
themselves caught.

We therefore went to breakfast with tolerably easy minds, to say nothing
of good appetites, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal,--a most sumptuous
one, considering the place and the circumstances of its preparation,--
Giaccomo condescending so far to relax the sternness of his demeanour to
Francois as to pat that individual approvingly on the shoulder, and to
assure him that such cookery went far to atone for