to the royal-mast-head.

The skipper, in setting the new course, had displayed what commended
itself to me as sound judgment. We were at such a distance from the
strangers of whom we were now in chase that even our most lofty canvas
was--and would, for some little time longer, remain--invisible from
their decks. This was highly desirable, since the nearer we could
approach them without being discovered, the better would be our chance
of ultimately getting alongside them. The only likelihood of a
premature discovery of our proximity lay in the possible necessity, on
the part of one or the other of them, to send a hand aloft; but this we
could not guard against. Captain Bentinck, therefore, hoping that _no_
such necessity would arise, had shaped a course not directly for them,
but at an intercepting angle to their own course, by which means he
hoped not only to hold way with them, but also to lessen very
considerably the distance between them and ourselves before the sight of
our canvas, rising above the horizon, would reveal our unwelcome
presence to the two slavers, as we believed the strange craft to be. It
was also of the utmost importance that we should have instant knowledge
of their discovery of our presence in their neighbourhood, and of the
action that they would thereupon take; hence the necessity for my
remaining aloft to maintain a steady and careful watch upon their
movements.

I had been anticipating--and, indeed, hoping--that my sojourn aloft
would be a lengthy one, for I knew that, so long as the strangers
continued to steer their original course, it would mean that they
remained in ignorance of our proximity to them. But this was not to be,
for I had but regained my original position on the royal-yard some ten
minutes, when, as I kept the telescope steadily fixed upon them, I saw
the brig bear up and run off square before the wind. The schooner
promptly followed her example, and both of them immediately proceeded to
rig out studding-sail booms on both sides.

"Deck ahoy!" hailed I. "The two strange sail to leeward have this
instant put up their helms, and are running square off before the wind;
they are also rigging out their studding-sail booms on both sides."

"Thank you, Mr Grenvile," replied the skipper. "How do they bear from
us now?"

"About four points before the beam, sir," answered I.

"Very good. Stay where you are a minute or two longer, for I am about
to bear up in chase, and