e
excitement grew stronger still, when the sudden report of two guns from
seaward, the signal for the approach of the lugger, followed almost
immediately by a broadside, told us that we were likely to see an action
before her arrival. As she rose rapidly upon the horizon, her signals
showed that she was chased by a Government cruiser, and one of double
her size. Of the superior weight of metal in the pursuer we saw
sufficient proofs in the unremitting fire. Except by superior
manoeuvering there was clearly no chance for the lugger. But in the
mean time all that could be done on shore was done. A huge fire sprang
up instantly on the cliff, muskets were discharged, and shouts were
given, to show that her friends were on the alert. The captain's
countenance fell, and as he strode backwards and forwards along the
shore, I could hear his wrath in continued grumblings.

"Fool and brute!" he cried, "this all comes of his being unable to hold
his tongue. He has clearly blabbed, otherwise we should not have had any
thing better than a row-boat in our wake. He will be captured to a
certainty. Well, he will find the comfort of being a cabin-boy or a
foremast-man on board the fleet for the rest of his days. I would not
trust him with a Thames lighter, if ever he gets on shore again."

The cannonade began now to be returned by the lugger, and the captain's
spirits revived. Coming up to me, he said, wiping the thick perspiration
from his brow, "This, sir, is a bad night's job, I am afraid; but if the
fellow in command of that lugger had only sea room, I doubt whether he
would not give the revenue craft enough to do yet. If he would but stand
off and try a fair run for it, but in this bay, in this beggarly nook,
where a man cannot steer without rubbing his elbows upon either shore,
he gives his seamanship no chance."

He now stood with his teeth firm set, and his night-glass to his eye,
bluff against the storm. A broadside came rolling along.

"By Jove! one would think that he had heard me," he exclaimed. "Well
done, Dick Longyarn! The Shark has got that in his teeth. He is leading
the cruiser a dance. What sort of report will the revenue gentleman have
to make to my Lords Commissioners to-morrow or the next day, I should
wish to know?"

The crowd on shore followed the Manoeuvres with not less interest.
Every glass was at the eye; and I constantly heard their grumblings and
disapprovals, as some luckless turn of the helm exposed