the fellow doesn't appear to be too tough a customer, we will bring
him to action and sail back in triumph."

The young lord did not observe the expression which passed over Voules's
countenance, but fully believed that they had been ordered to chase,
and, if to chase, to fight the vessel in sight, should she not prove to
be an enemy of overwhelming force. Though Voules had never shown the
white feather, he was decidedly prudent, and he remembered the _Maria's_
limited crew, which, though sufficient to navigate her, was not strong
enough to man the guns.

The _Marie_ looked more formidable than she really was, and as she
approached the stranger made all sail to escape. The latter soon showed
that her sailing powers were not much inferior to those of the _Marie_,
by keeping almost the same distance ahead as she had been when she first
discovered that she was pursued.

The _Marie_ soon lost sight of the fleet. Voules suggested that as
there was no probability of coming up with the chase for many hours,
that they should haul their wind and stand back.

"Certainly I will not do that," answered Lord Reginald. "Captain
Moubray must have known that we could not come up with her in a hurry,
and intended that we should overhaul her. We are gaining on her, and if
we continue the chase and do not lose sight of her during the night, we
shall probably, some time to-morrow, get alongside."

"If we get so far away we shall find it no easy matter to regain the
fleet," observed Voules. "The chase may not prove to be worth the
trouble we are taking to capture her."

"That remains to be proved," answered Lord Reginald. "If you feel
uncomfortable, turn in and go to sleep, perhaps when you awake you will
find that we have fought an action, and taken the enemy."

Voules reddened at the taunt. It was a cruel return, he thought, for
all the flattery he had bestowed on the young lord. "I have no wish to
avoid a fight, but I say again, there is no chance of its taking place
for many hours to come, at least at the slow rate at which we are now
overhauling the chase, and if we take her--which is problematical--we
shall find it a difficult matter to rejoin the convoy."

Lord Reginald was in one of his obstinate moods. The more Voules urged
him to abandon the chase, the more determined he was to continue it.

The wind remained fresh, and he asserted that they were gaining on the
chase.

Dick and Ben were stationed forward.

"H