rly a point higher under her fore-
and-aft canvas only, and go along very nearly as fast."

Simpson needed no second bidding. He thought as I did on the matter,
and the result proved us correct, for while there was no perceptible
diminution in the schooner's speed due to the loss of her square canvas,
she looked higher and went along much more easily and comfortably than
she had done before, "Now for a look at the commodore," said I, when we
had snugged down the little vessel, and I took the telescope from the
beckets in which it hung in the companion way.

Yes, there she was, dead to windward of us, driving along, as I could
just make out, under her main topgallant-sail; but all was perfectly
dark on board her, and there was no sign of the slaver that I could see.
But I presumed that they had her in sight from the brig, or we should
have heard something from the latter. For it was at this time very
dark, and blowing strong, and the conditions generally were such that
the matter of as little as even two or three miles might make all the
difference between seeing and not seeing the stranger.

Eight bells came, the watch was called. Jones, the boatswain, relieved
Simpson, and the latter, bidding me good-night, went below. I explained
to Jones our reasons for taking the square canvas off the ship, and he
was graciously pleased to express his approval.

"Yes, sir," he said, "I believe you've done the right thing. Even now
the little hooker have got all that she can comfortably carry, and if
you was to pile more on to her you'd do no good, but only strain her all
to pieces, and open her seams. The fact is, Mr Grenvile, that these
here shallow, beamy craft ain't intended to sail on their sides; bury
'em below their sheer-strake and they begins to drag and to sag at once.
We're doin' quite as well as can be reasonably expected in such a sea
as this, as is proved by the way that we're keepin' pace with the
commodore. I'll just take his bearin's, for the fun of the thing, and
see how much he head-reaches on us durin' the next hour." Saying which
he trotted aft to the binnacle and very carefully took the bearings of
the brig, which we both made to be exactly east-south-east.

The hour sped, with no sight or sign of the chase to cheer us, and then
Jones and I went to the binnacle to take the bearings of the _Dona Inez_
once more. The boatswain was a long time getting the bearing to his
satisfaction, for the little ves