, she must be full of men, or those long, heavy sweeps could never
be kept going for so great a length of time," remarked George to the
mate. "We shall have to devote all our attention to those sweeps in the
first instance, I can see. If we are only fortunate enough to knock
away two or three of them, it will at least _delay_ their approach; and
if a breeze would only spring up, smart as that schooner looks, I should
not despair of being able to show her a clean pair of heels."

"Ay," answered Bowen, "and we're going to have a breeze by-and-by; just
the way we wants it, too. I can make out the upper edge of a cloud-bank
rising now above the horizon to the east'ard there; and if we can only
keep yonder cut-throat crew at arm's length until we get the wind, and
if it'll only come down upon us pretty fresh when it _does_ come, I
think, as you say, sir, we may give them handsomely the slip."

With the view of getting a still clearer idea as to the possible advent
of the desired breeze, Mr Bowen forthwith undertook a journey as far as
the main-royal yard, upon which he comfortably established himself, with
one arm round the royal-pole, whilst he carefully studied the aspect of
the weather, and as carefully scrutinised the horizon to see whether
there were any other craft in their immediate neighbourhood. No other
sail excepting the schooner, however, was in sight in any direction; and
having at length formed a tolerably clear opinion with regard to the
weather, he descended again to the main-top, and remarked to George--

"That schooner must be coming up at the rate of about three knots, by
the look of her."

"Yes; about that," answered George.

"And she's about eight miles off now, I should say," continued Bowen.

"Yes; about eight miles," returned George, with his eye still peering
through the telescope.

"Then," remarked the mate, "it will take her a matter of some two hours
and forty minutes, or thereabouts, to get alongside. And by that time,
unless I am greatly mistaken, the first of the breeze will have reached
us. I hope we shall get it _before_ then; because in light winds I
don't doubt but what that craft could sail round and round us; but only
let it come strong enough to oblige us to stow our royals, and I'll bet
my old hat that we can walk away from her. I'm afraid we sha'n't scrape
clear without finding out the weight of the shot she can pitch at us;
but if our lads are only steady when the powder-