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frigates of the same size as their own and the _Venus_; but should they prove much larger, they were equally ready to engage them. Still, hour after hour went by, and no enemy appearing, they began to fear that the Frenchmen would get into port before they could be overtaken. At length, just before the sun reached the horizon, his rays fell on the royals and topgallantsails of two ships right ahead. As the sun sank lower they were again lost to view, but their appearance revived the hopes of all on board. It was not likely that they would alter their course during the night, and it was hoped, therefore, that before morning they would be overtaken. It was not likely that the _Thisbe_ and _Venus_, being in the shadow, would have been perceived. "The chances are that we shall be upon them in the dark," said Jack to Tom; "and we'll surprise them, I've a notion. The captain thinks so, or he wouldn't have given the order to prepare for action." "I would rather fight in daylight," said Tom, "and I hope they'll manage to keep ahead till then." Jack laughed, for he suspected that Tom would rather not fight at all. The watch below were ordered to turn in as usual, but most of the officers kept on deck, too eager for the work to be able to sleep. CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. ACTION BETWEEN THE "THISBE" AND A FRENCH FRIGATE. Rayner--for such he ought now to be called--who was in the middle watch, was standing forward on the look-out, and, as may be supposed, he did not allow an eye to wink. Several times he thought that he could see two dark objects rising above the horizon, but his imagination might have deceived him, for they, at all events, grew no larger. When his watch was over, he came aft into the midshipmen's berth, where several of his messmates were collected. He might have turned in, for the night was drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight. He, as well as others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table. They were aroused from their uncomfortable slumbers by the boatswain's call, piping the hammocks up, and on coming on deck the first thing they saw were the two ships they had been chasing all night directly ahead, their topsails just rising above the water. Their hopes revived that they would come up with them before the day was many hours older; still the strangers were a long way out of range of their bow chasers. As the sun rose and shone on their own canvas they knew tha
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