er lee covering-board awash, her
royal stowed, and her topmasts whipping about like a couple of fishing-
rods; whilst the felucca was about three miles ahead of us and broad on
our weather bow, going two feet to our one, and weathering on us at
every plunge. We were consequently sailing at right angles to the
stranger, and rather drawing away from the line of her course than
otherwise; yet such was the speed with which she came along that in half
an hour she was hull-up from our deck. It now became apparent that she
was manifesting a certain amount of curiosity as to who and what we
might happen to be; for instead of gradually revealing her starboard
broadside to us, as she would have done had she held on her original
course, she was gradually hauling her wind by keeping her bowsprit
pointed straight for us. I was at first disposed to regard her as
English, but the enormous spread of her lower and topsail-yards
convinced me, upon her nearer approach, that I was mistaken. That same
peculiarity of rig was a strong argument against the assumption of her
being French; and, considerably puzzled what to make of her, I sent for
my glass, in order to get a clearer view of her. By the time that the
instrument had been brought on deck and put into my hand she was within
four miles of us; and a single glance through the telescope sufficed to
tell me who and what she was. Yes, there could be no doubt about it;
the craft running down so rapidly toward us was none other than
Merlani's schooner, the identical craft Courtenay and I had seen hove
down on the occasion of our visit to the Conconil lagoons.

Here was a pretty kettle of fish, indeed! The fellow's decks would, of
course, be crowded with men, whilst I had not enough hands to man a
single broadside, supposing even that I sent every available man to the
guns, leaving the canvas to take care of itself! And as for Courtenay,
he was even worse off than myself. I was puzzled what to do for the
best; for I felt that a single false move at such a juncture, and in the
presence of such an enemy, might involve us in absolute ruin. A hurried
consultation with the boatswain and gunner, however, decided me to put a
bold face upon the affair and "brazen it out;" in accordance with which
resolution our ensign and pennant were hoisted, the topgallant-sail was
clewed up and furled, and the gaff-topsail hauled down and stowed.
Courtenay very smartly followed suit in the matter of showi