g gun all ready, sir," reported Simpson when at length I stepped out
on deck fully dressed. "Shall we try a shot?"

"Too far off," said I; "we should not get anywhere near her. Still,
yes, you may waste a charge just by way of letting the fellow understand
that we are in earnest. Give the muzzle a good elevation, and so aim
that he may see that we want to pitch a shot across his forefoot. And
at the same time let him see the colour of our bunting."

The shot was accordingly fired and our ensign hoisted; but, so far as
the former was concerned, we might as well have saved our powder, for
the ball, although very well aimed, fell a long way short. But it had
the effect of causing her to show her colours, which proved to be
French. We fired no more, for there was nothing to be gained by wasting
ammunition, and it was quite clear that the stranger had no intention of
heaving-to until absolutely compelled to do so. We held on, therefore,
uneventfully, until we were fairly in the brigantine's wake, and then
tacked again, without waiting for orders from the commodore. It was by
this time eight o'clock; the watch was called, the boatswain came aft to
relieve Simpson, and San Domingo appeared, with the announcement that
breakfast was ready. Before going below, however, I ordered young Keene
to bring up my sextant, with which I very carefully measured the angle
between the brigantine's main-topmast head and the top of her transom.
When I had secured this I clamped the instrument and laid it aside for
reference later. Then I instructed Jones to pick out the best helmsman
he could find in his watch and send him aft to the tiller, explaining my
reason for so doing.

"After our performance of last night," said I, "I think we need have no
fear as to our ability to overhaul that brigantine. But I want to do
more than that; I want not only to overhaul her, but also to eat out to
windward of her, so cutting off her escape in that direction. And, to
accomplish this, and thus bring her the sooner to action, if she means
to fight, we must have a thoroughly good man at the tiller, one who will
let her go along clean full, yet at the same time coax and humour the
little barkie every inch to windward that he can."

"Yes, sir, I perfectly understands," answered the boatswain. "I knows
exactly what you wants, Mr Grenvile, and I've got the very man for the
job. I'll see to it, sir." And he took the tiller rope out of the
hands of