Red Eric_,
and the next instant the foretopsail-yard came rattling down upon the
deck.

Immediately after, the cruiser ranged up alongside, and the order to
heave-to was repeated with a threat that was calculated to cause the
hair of a man of peace to stand on end. The effect on Captain Dunning
was to induce him to give the order--

"Point the guns there, lads, and aim high; I don't like to draw first
blood--even of a pirate."

"Ship ahoy! Who are you, and where from?" inquired Captain Dunning,
through the speaking-trumpet.

"Her British Majesty's frigate _Firebrand_. If you don't heave-to, sir,
instantly, I'll give you a broadside. Who are you, and where bound?"

"Whew!" whistled Captain Dunning, to vent his feelings of surprise ere
he replied, "The _Red Eric_, South Sea whaler, outward bound."

Having given this piece of information, he ordered the topsails to be
backed, and the ship was hove-to. Meanwhile a boat was lowered from the
cruiser, and the captain thereof speedily leaped upon the whaler's
quarterdeck.

The explanation that followed was not by any means calculated to allay
the irritation of the British captain. He had made quite sure that the
_Red Eric_ was the slaver of which he was in search, and the discovery
of his mistake induced him to make several rather severe remarks in
reference to the crew of the _Red Eric_ generally and her commander in
particular.

"Why didn't you heave-to when I ordered you," he said, "and so save all
this trouble and worry?"

"Because," replied Captain Dunning drily, "I'm not in the habit of
obeying orders until I know that he who gives 'em has a right to do so.
But 'tis a pity to waste time talking about such trifles when the craft
you are in search of is not very far away at this moment."

"What mean you, sir?" inquired the captain of the cruiser quickly.

"I mean that yonder vessel, scarcely visible now on the lee bow, is the
slaver, in all likelihood."

The captain gave but one hasty glance in the direction pointed to by
Captain Dunning, and next moment he was over the side of the ship, and
the boat was flying swiftly towards his vessel. The rapid orders given
on board the cruiser soon after, showed that her commander was eagerly
in pursuit of the strange vessel ahead, and the flash and report of a
couple of guns proved that he was again giving orders in his somewhat
peremptory style.

When daylight appeared, Captain Dunning was still on deck, and G