ain did not,
however, put out the fires, so as to prevent the ship's company's dinner
being cooked, as everything was ready, and the magazines could be opened
in a minute.

At ten o'clock we had drawn into six fathoms water; the Frenchman was
now nearly astern of us, still on the opposite tack, and passing about
three miles to leeward of the merchant vessel which lagged most behind.
It was now considered certain that she would re-capture this vessel,
which was at least seven miles astern of us, and not impossible that she
might take one, if not both of the others, as it was evident she was a
prime sailer, as fast almost as our own ship.

At a quarter-past ten, the French line-of-battle ship tacked, and stood
right after us in our wake, being now hull down about twelve miles from
us.

"He'll soon have the starnmost vessel, Mr Keene," said Bob Cross to me.
"Mr Dott has charge of her; he is always in some scrape or other."

"Yes," replied I; "but he gets out of them, and I dare say he will out
of this."

"Helm up there, quarter-master--flatten in forward."

"The wind's heading us, sir," said the master; "she's full again now.
Thus, boy, and nothing off."

"She has broken off two points, sir."

"All the better," replied the captain; "it's a squeak for Mr Dott."

In a few minutes we perceived that the other vessel had met the change
in the wind and had broken off as well as ourselves. The Frenchman did
not now lay up for the merchant vessel as she did before, and the latter
had some chance of escape. It was very exciting: for as the time drew
nearer to noon, the wind became more light and more variable, and at one
time all the vessels broke off another point; shortly afterwards, the
wind flew back again to the point which it at first blew from, and the
enemy lay once more right up for the merchant vessels. The French
line-of-battle ship was still about four miles astern of the merchant
vessel nearest to her.

"I think we shall have a calm soon," observed Captain Delmar. "Square
the mainyard; we may as well be nearer to her, as not, now; for if it
falls calm she will recapture them with her boats, and we shall be too
far to give any assistance. Get the yard tackles up: all ready, Mr
---?"

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the first lieutenant.

"Pipe the boat's crew away, and let them get their guns and ammunition
on the gangway."

It was about a quarter to eleven when we hove to, the breeze still
continuing va