from the chase;
for some of the ropes getting foul during the operation, we were obliged
to luff up to clear them, thereby allowing her to get still farther
ahead. Still, she could be distinguished standing to the eastward. As
soon as the sails were handed we stood on again after her, staggering
along under such canvas as we could carry, and every eye on board turned
towards her.

"If she runs us out of sight, she'll put her helm up and stand down the
coast," observed Mudge; "and it will be a hard matter to find her
again."

Our chief hope was that our shot might wing her; but only one gun could
be brought to bear, and with the sea there was on, though it was not
very heavy, our aim was uncertain. Still, as we had got her jammed in
between us and the coast, there was little chance of her ultimately
escaping.

We had been running on for some time, the chase still gaining on us, and
becoming dimmer and dimmer to view, when a heavy squall struck the ship,
and heeled her over so much that the captain gave the order to shorten
sail. It cleared off, however, before the sheets were let fly; but when
we again looked ahead the chase was nowhere to be seen. We accordingly
edged away to the southward, in case she should have gone off before the
wind.

Not long after this the morning broke, and the wind went down. As the
chase was not to be seen to the southward, the captain and Mr Worthy
were still convinced that she had continued her course to the eastward,
but that the thick mist hanging over the coast was hiding her from
sight. We had again made all sail, and were standing on as before, when
the look-out at the mast-head shouted, "Land! land!" and shortly
afterwards, as the atmosphere cleared, we could see the wood-covered
heights of the African coast rising above the belt of thick mist which
still hung over the lower ground, and which would effectually conceal
the chase should she have stood in for the shore.

"Should she be there, we shall soon sight her," observed Mudge. "I only
hope that her rascally crew will have the courage to fight for their
lives and liberty; though there isn't much chance of that."

The lead was kept going, of course, and showed a much greater depth of
water than had been expected. On reference to the chart, the captain
found that we must be approaching the mouth of a large river. The sun
rising, dissipated the mist; and we had got close to the mouth of the
river when the wind fell.