stinguish himself, seemed to regard this as a favourable opportunity
for so doing, and promptly squared away, steering a course which would
enable him to intercept the guarda-costa; we following steadily in his
wake to witness the fun. Almost immediately afterwards we heard the
shrill notes of the bo'sun's whistle, followed by the hoarse bellowing
sound in which that functionary is wont to transmit the commanding
officer's orders to the ship's company. And occasionally we were
gratified with the sight of Mr Bob Summers squinting curiously at us
through his telescope, out of one of the stern-ports.

The moment that the brig was fairly within range of the "Vigilant," Bob
bowled a 9-pound shot across that craft's fore-foot, as an invitation to
her to heave-to. Monsieur Durand, however, seemed in no humour for
accepting any such invitation just then, for he immediately returned a
decided negative from his long brass 9-pounder, sending the shot very
cleverly through both Bob's topsails, and narrowly missing the mainmast-
head. I expected to see Master Bob round-to and deliver his whole
broadside in retaliation--it would have been quite like him to do so;
instead of this, however, he maintained a grim silence, notwithstanding
that Monsieur Durand continued his efforts to cripple the brig. At
length, however, Bob got within short pistol-shot of his adversary, and
then in came his studding-sails, all together, down went his helm, and
_crash_! went his broadside of four 9-pounders into the devoted
Frenchman, bringing his sails and his flag down by the run, together.

As the brig rounded-to, her main-topsail was thrown aback, bringing her
to a standstill directly to windward of the "Vigilant," and within easy
hailing distance. Then Master Bob hove into view in the main-rigging
once more, still with the precious speaking-trumpet in his hand, and the
guarda-costa was sternly ordered to surrender--as I afterwards learned,
we being at the moment rather too far astern to hear what passed,--which
she forthwith did. The cutter was thereupon lowered and manned, and a
prize crew went on board to take possession, little Summers himself also
going with the party.

In the meantime we in the "Mouette" joined company, heaving-to close
under the brig's quarter, and making out for the first time the word
"Requin" (Shark), which was painted on her stern in small red letters.

After the lapse of perhaps a quarter of an hour the brig's cut