when they like to do it."

"All right, then, Pringle," answered Mr Brine; "we understand each
other clearly. Keep order among the boys, and have an eye on the
prisoners."

All arrangements being made, Mr Nott, with his quadrant, book of
navigation, and his crew, went on board the prize and took charge of
her, instead of the officer who had boarded her when she was captured.

Scarcely had he got on board and made sail than a large ship was seen to
the southwest. The frigate signalled the brig to continue on her
course, and then stood away in chase of the stranger. Johnny Nott would
much have liked to have gone too, for he could not help fancying that
the stranger was an enemy, and if so, he knew full well that whatever
her size, even should she happen to be a line-of-battle ship, his
Captain would very likely bring her to action. Though he dared not
follow her, he waited till he guessed that no one on board would be
paying him any attention, and then, having persuaded himself that there
would be no harm in so doing, hove the brig to, that he might have a
better chance of ascertaining what might happen.

He then ordered True Blue to the masthead to watch the proceedings of
the stranger. The wind was about north-west; the stranger was steering
about east, and had apparently come from the southward. In a little
time Billy hailed that she had brailed up her courses.

"Then, sir," observed Paul, "depend on it she is an enemy."

"I wonder what size she is? What do you think, Pringle?" asked the
midshipman.

"Freeborn can tell better than any of us," was the reply; and on Billy
being hailed, he reported her a heavy frigate or a fifty-gun ship.

"I only hope our bright _Ruby_ won't find that she has caught a Tartar,
then," said Johnny Nott. "I don't think that we could be of much use if
we were to go and try and help."

"Never fear, sir," observed Paul; "our Captain will know how to tackle
with her, whatever she is."

While this conversation was going forward, True Blue hailed that the
frigate was again making signals, and on Johnny Nott referring to his
book he discovered that it was a reprimand ordering him to make all sail
to the eastward. Had he persevered in remaining hove to, he would have
been guilty of an act of insubordination, and most reluctantly,
therefore, he made sail and stood on his proper course.

When daylight returned the next morning the frigate was nowhere to be
seen, and _La Sybille_ c