to
what she was. He heard some officers talking, and they declared that
she was undoubtedly French, and was either a large man-of-war corvette,
or a privateer. If such were the case, and the _Thisbe_ could get up to
her, she would be captured to a certainty, though she would probably
fight, and try to knock away some of the _Thisbe's_ spars, so as to
effect her escape. The wind, which had hitherto been blowing from the
southward and south, suddenly shifted to the east. As soon as the
stranger felt it, she was seen to haul her tacks on board, brace up her
yards, and stand away towards the land.

"She's going to run on shore," exclaimed Jack, who had been watching her
as eagerly as any one, when his duty would allow him to take a look-out.

"More likely she knows of a harbour or battery in there, and is running
in for shelter," answered Bill.

"We shan't be able to take her then," said Jack. "I was making sure we
should have her as our prize."

"I won't say we shan't take her, notwithstanding," observed Bill.
"Perhaps we shall fight the battery and her too, if she brings up under
one. Or if she runs into a harbour, the boats may be sent in after her
to bring her out."

As soon as the stranger was seen standing to the southward, the _Thisbe_
also hauled up to continue the pursuit, but the chase was still beyond
the reach of her guns.

"We shan't catch her after all," said Jack, who had taken another look
at the stranger some time after she had altered her course.

"I don't see that we have not still a chance of coming up with her,"
answered Bill. "The captain thinks so, or he would not be keeping after
her. Perhaps she may be becalmed closer in with the land, or we may
draw near enough to knock away her masts. We have gained a mile on her
during the last hour. I would always try to succeed while a single
chance remains, and I would never knock under to an enemy while I had a
stick standing, or a plank beneath my feet."

Still, notwithstanding Bill's sanguine hopes of success, as the day wore
on there seemed every probability that the French ship would make good
her escape. It was now seen that she was steering for a harbour, the
mouth of which could be distinguished from the deck of the _Thisbe_,
with a battery on one side.

"Our bow chasers will reach her, Mr Saltwell," cried the captain, at
length.

The order to fire was eagerly obeyed. The frigate, however, had to yaw
for the purpose. One of th