ain coast of Circassia and Abrasia.

One of those short cross seas to which inland waters are so liable,
was running at the time, and there were evidences, too, of foul
weather, for the wind that sets from the north-east for
three-fourths of the season in these waters, had hauled more
westerly, and dark, ominous looking clouds obstructed the light of
the sun as it rose from the horizon. The wind came in sudden and
unequal gusts, now causing the clipper to careen till her topsail
yards almost dipped, and then permitting her to rise once more to
the upright position. Capt. Selim noted these signs well, for he
knew the character of these waters, and that these signs
prognosticated no favorable coming weather. His sails were first
reefed, then close reefed, and finally furled altogether, save a
fore-staysail, and the mainsail reduced to its smallest reef points.

While the clipper was scudding under this sail, a close lookout was
kept in her wake, for Selim knew very well that at farthest his
absence would only be concealed until the morning gun should fire,
when the fleetest ship in the Sultan's navy would be dispatched to
overtake him. And this was indeed the case, for just at this moment
there came to his side a young Greek, who acted as his first
officer, and pointing away astern in the south-western board, said:

"There is a man-of-war, sir, standing right in our wake hereaway."

"You are right--we are discovered, too, for he steers like a hawk on
the wing about to dive for its prey."

"He is close handed, sir, while we are running nearly free."

"Then he has not yet made out the schooner's bearings; keep her as
she is."

Watching the frigate, Selim still held on his course steadily, but
the size of the enemy enabled her to carry twice the amount of
canvass in proportion to her tonnage that he dared to do. Indeed, he
felt the fleet craft under his feet tremble beneath the force with
which she was driven through the water even now. As the morning
advanced, the frigate gained fast upon them, until at the suggestion
of Aphiz, the foresail, close reefed, was put upon the schooner, but
quickly taken in again. It was too evident that the gale was
increasing, as the bows of the schooner were every other minute
quite under water, then she would rise on the next wave to shake the
spray from her prow and side like a living creature, then boldly
dash forward again.

"That fellow is in earnest," said Selim to Aphiz, "and