by one; while away
to windward the sky, already nearly as dark as it would be that night,
was thickly powdered with a million glittering points.

We continued upon the starboard tack until two bells in the first watch,
when, the skipper being of opinion that we had made sufficient offing to
go to windward of everything, we tacked ship and stood to the southward
and eastward again. It was by this time quite dark, although starlight;
and we knew that if the strangers inside had kept a watch upon us, they
would have seen us still standing off the land as long as it was
possible to see anything at all; and, this being the case, we hoped they
would jump to the conclusion that they had seen the last of us, for that
night at least, and think no more about us.

By six bells we were dead to windward of the eastern end of El Roque,
and about ten miles from it, when we edged away a couple of points, and,
getting a good pull upon the weather-braces, went rolling and plunging
down past the weather side of Key Grande, giving the land a wide berth
however, and stationing extra lookouts--the keenest-eyed men in the
ship--to watch for any signs of broken water.

Two hours after bearing up, we were off the south-east angle of the
island, when we wore ship, and, shortening sail to close-reefed
topsails, jib, and spanker, dodged quietly in toward the land, under the
lee of which we soon found ourselves. A couple of leadsmen were sent
into the chains, and the lead kept constantly going, but we found there
was plenty of water, so we stood on until we got into eight fathoms,
when, being completely sheltered, we let go the anchor, and stowed our
canvas.

It was by this time about two o'clock a.m. The boats had been prepared
long before, and nothing now remained but to lower away, unhook, and be
off.

As soon as the sails were furled, Captain Annesley went below to his
cabin, and immediately sent for Mr Flinn, Mr Vining, Mr Martin, and
me. We trundled down one after the other, and found our chief bending
anxiously over a chart which was lying spread open upon the cabin-table.

"Pray be seated, gentlemen," said he; "draw your chairs up to the table,
and you will all be able to follow me upon the chart. Here is where we
are,"--making a pencil dot on the chart to indicate the position of the
frigate--"and here, as nearly as possible, is where the ship and
brigantine are lying,"--a cross serving to indicate their position.
"Now I feel m