ld also make out, even from the level of
the deck, a brig-rigged steamer, which could be none other than the
Peruvian monitor; and she was accompanied by a large, three-masted,
ship-rigged steamer which was undoubtedly the corvette _Union_. Whether
the enemy had yet sighted the _Covadonga_ was still doubtful, for the
gunboat was close in under the high cliffs which formed the coastline at
that point, and they would hardly be on the look-out for a vessel so
near in to the land. But when they got nearer to her they could hardly
help sighting her; and her only hope of ultimate escape was to avoid
detection, if possible, until she was nearly abreast of the Peruvians,
and then to make a running fight of it, trusting more to her heels than
to her fighting powers to enable her to get away.

But the _Covadonga_ could scarcely hope to avoid a fight of some sort;
and her gallant skipper, Condell, was not at all the sort of man to wish
to do so. He would at any time much rather stay and fight than run,
even though hopelessly outmatched; but orders were orders, and he was
wanted at Valparaiso, so for once he was forced to acknowledge
discretion as the better part of valour.

At this moment, the "word" having been quietly passed, the men came
tumbling up on deck, and Jim was obliged to abandon his survey of the
Peruvians and attend to his duty of getting his own particular battery
of guns ready for the coming encounter. In about ten minutes everything
was prepared, and Montt, the first lieutenant, marched into the tiny
conning-tower and reported to Condell, "Ship cleared for action, sir."
Jim was then free, for a short time at any rate, to turn his attention
once more to the swiftly approaching steamers, which were travelling so
fast as to give the impression that they feared pursuit.

"If," mused Jim, "the _Almirante Cochrane_ or some other of our ships
are really after these fellows it will probably mean the saving of us,
for the _Huascar_ and the _Union_ will in that case hardly dare to
remain and fight against us.

"Ah!--" he continued, as he saw a rocket stream up into the air from the
_Huascar_, "they have sighted us, that is clear, and we shall have to
fight after all. Yes; here they come! They are both altering their
course now, and heading directly for us. I was afraid we should not
escape detection."

The Peruvians, which had been heading off the land, had now turned
slightly, and were pointing about north-nort