nothing in sight but the heads of the topsails of a brig which,
hull-down in the south-western quarter, was stretching in toward the
coast, close-hauled on the port tack. We took very little notice of
this craft at the time, for she was then too far distant to show much of
herself, even when viewed through the ship's telescope, while her yards
were so braced that only the edges of her sails presented themselves to
our view; but, remembering our recent experiences with a brig at a spot
not very far distant from where we then were, I strongly advised Carter
to keep a wary eye upon her movements. The land breeze was then fast
dying away, and I thought it quite possible that we might have an
opportunity to see a little more of the stranger when the sea breeze
should set in.

That same sea breeze set in while we in the cuddy were sitting down to
breakfast; and when, after the meal was over, we all adjourned to the
poop, I found Carter regarding the stranger with some little uneasiness
through the telescope. As I joined him he handed me the instrument,
saying:

"Just take a squint at her, Mr Grenvile, and tell me what you think of
her. To my mind she seems to be steering in such a way as to close with
us, and I should like to have your opinion upon her."

I accordingly took the instrument, and soon had the stranger sharply
focused in the lenses. She was then broad on our starboard bow, and was
still hull-down, but she had risen just to the foot of her fore course,
which was set, while the mainsail hung in its clewlines and buntlines,
and was running down with squared yards, but had no studding-sails set.
And, as Carter had remarked, she seemed to be steering in such a manner
as to intercept us. She was a brig of about the same tonnage as the
_Shark_, of which craft she somehow reminded me sufficiently to invite a
closer and more detailed scrutiny, and presently I was able to make out
that she flew a pennant; she was consequently a man-o'-war. It is true
that the _Shark_ was not the only brig on the West African station: the
British had two others, and we knew of three under the French pennant;
but the craft in sight was not French--I could swear to that--and the
longer I looked at her the more firmly convinced did I become that she
was none other than the dear old _Shark_ herself. I could not be
absolutely certain of her identity until her hull should heave up clear
of the horizon, but that jaunty steeve of bowsprit