neatly done as our
own, still it _was_ done after a fashion, and they were ready to make
sail a few minutes before us, an advantage of which they availed
themselves with such alacrity that it became evident their chief anxiety
was to place, in the shortest possible time, the greatest possible
distance between us and themselves.

This project, however, by no means met the views of us "Scourges," and
the instant that it was possible, every available stitch of canvas was
packed upon our ship, with the view of closing with the enemy again as
promptly as possible.

Then began that most wearisome of all wearisome businesses, a stern
chase in a light breeze, during which the whole crew, from the skipper
downwards, whistled most devoutly for a wind.

Slowly--_very_ slowly we gained upon the chase, the master, who had
resigned the wheel at the cessation of the action, standing upon the
forecastle with his sextant, measuring, about once every five minutes,
the angle between the mast-head and the water-line of the chase, to
ascertain which ship gained upon the other. At last "I think we are
within range now, sir; shall we try a shot from our bow-chasers?" said
Mr Sennitt.

"We can scarcely reach him yet, I am afraid," said the skipper; "but
there will be no harm in trying."

The order was given, and old Tompion, the gunner, undertook in person
the task of levelling the gun. He went about the work with much
deliberation and a great display of science, and at length, watching a
favourable opportunity, fired. In another moment a white sear started
into view near the Frenchman's rudder and close to the water's edge.

"Hulled him! by all that's clever," exclaimed the first luff, while the
gratified Tompion looked slowly round upon his messmates, with modest
pride beaming from every feature.

"Returned, with thanks," murmured young Harvey, who was stationed close
beside me, as a puff of smoke veiled for an instant the stern of our
antagonist; and then the shot was seen bounding toward us, its path
marked by the jets of water which flew up wherever the ball struck. At
last it was seen to scurry along the surface for a short distance;
finally disappearing within about fifty fathoms of our bows.

"Try another shot there, forward," said the skipper, "and aim for his
spars. A guinea to the first man who knocks away a spar big or little."

Every man in the ship was of course anxious to try his hand, and Mr
Sennitt was obliged