ook, she puts me in mind of one of the squadron
which chased us off Guernsey."

True Blue's confidence made the midshipmen look at the stranger in a
different light, and they finally both confessed that they were afraid
he was right. Captain Jones agreeing with them, all sail was now
crowded on the brig to escape.

In spite of all the sail the brig could carry, the frigate was fast
coming up with her.

"I wish that we could fight," said Johnny Nott to Elmore. "Don't you
think that if we were to get two of the guns aft, we might knock away
some of her spars?"

"I fear not," said his brother midshipman, pointing to the popguns which
adorned the packet's deck. "These things would not carry half as far as
the frigate's guns; and, probably, as soon as we began to fire she would
let fly a broadside and sink us."

"Too true, Sir Henry," observed the brave Captain of the packet, who
stood on deck surrounded by the passengers, many of them asking all
sorts of useless questions. His countenance showed how distressed he
was. "In this case I fear discretion will form the best part of
valour."

Captain Jones cast anxious glances aloft, as well he might, and the
midshipmen and True Blue eyed the frigate; and Nott turned to his
messmate and said, in a doubting tone, "Elmore, what do you think of
it?"

The other answered sadly. "There is no doubt of it. She is coming up
hand over hand with us. Freeborn, I am afraid that I am right."

"Yes, sir," answered True Blue, touching his hat. "She is going nearly
ten knots to our six."

"Then she will be up with us within a couple of hours at most," said the
young midshipman with a deep-drawn sigh.

The breeze kept freshening rapidly. The brig carried on, however, till
her royal masts went over the side, and her topgallant-masts would have
followed had the sails not been handed in time; and now all expectation
of escape was abandoned.

Still Captain Jones held on his course, remarking, "It will be time
enough to heave-to when her shot comes aboard us."

The crew went below and put on their clean things and a double allowance
of clothing, as well as all their possessions which they could stow away
in their pockets. When they returned on deck, they certainly did look,
as Johnny Nott observed, "a remarkably stout set of Britons."

Sir Henry borrowed a midshipman's hat and dirk, as he had lost his own;
and Nott, who had a few sovereigns in his pocket,--a wonderful sum for