colonel," he remarked to Lance, shortly afterwards, "I reckon
that was a narrer squeak for us, that was. If I'd been fool enough to
go to the nor'ard, they'd have had us for sure. That's a right smart
frigate, that is; and I guess she's a Yankee. You Britishers don't
build such smart boats as that. After this I'm bound more'n ever to
have that schooner you promised to build for me, for I don't mind owning
up that I began to feel skeered a bit when I saw how we was bein'
catched up. Do you think, now, colonel, you could build a schooner that
would have walked away from that frigate?"

"Oh dear, yes!" answered Lance, "I am quite sure I could; only,
remember, I must not be interfered with in any way. I cannot have
people troubling me with suggestions, or, worse still, insisting upon my
grafting their ideas on to my own. The ship must be exclusively my own
design, and then I can promise you we will turn out a craft capable, if
need be, of running away from the fastest frigate that ever was
launched."

"All right, colonel; don't you trouble about that," was the reply.
"Only say what you want, and it shall be done; and if anybody tries to
interfere with you, just point 'em out to me, that's all."

"Very well," returned Lance. "Then I shall consider that a bargain; and
now I will wish you good-night, as I think there will be rain shortly,
and I've no particular fancy for a drenching unless it comes in the way
of duty."

The following morning dawned bright and fair, the thunder-storm of the
preceding night having broken and raged furiously for a couple of hours
soon after our friends left the deck, and then cleared completely away.
When Captain Staunton went on deck he found a fine breeze blowing once
more from the westward, and the brig dashing along at a slashing pace
under topgallant-sails, with her nose pointing to the northward. The
air was clear and transparent; not a cloud flecked the deep blue of the
sky overhead; and a man, who had shinned aloft at Johnson's orders as
far as the main truck, was just in the act of reporting that there was
nothing anywhere in sight. So that any lingering hopes which Captain
Staunton may have entertained as to the possibility of the frigate
rediscovering them were speedily dashed to the ground.

The fine weather lasted; and three days afterwards, about two o'clock in
the afternoon, the look-out aloft reported, "Land ho! right ahead!"

"What is it like?" hailed Johnson fro