the course of
events, keenly watching her movements meanwhile. I noticed that, thanks
to the exquisite cut of her canvas, she was looking well up into the
wind, and I thought it possible that, with this advantage, she might
perhaps reach the spot where the boats were awaiting her, without
breaking tacks, which would be an advantage for our people, for it would
throw her so close to the place of ambush that it would cause the attack
almost to take the form of a surprise. And so it did, as I afterward
learned; for when at length her skipper was compelled to put his helm
down and go about, in order to avoid grounding on the mud of the eastern
bank of the river, the ship was in the very mouth of the creek wherein
our boats were lurking; and while the ship was in stays, and all hands
of her crew were busily engaged in tending the tacks, sheets, and
braces, our people dashed alongside and took her almost without striking
a blow.

CHAPTER NINE.

WE LEAVE THE FERNAN VAZ.

Of course nothing of this was perceptible from my look-out in the
crow's-nest; the only thing of a suggestive character that came to my
notice was that when, looking through my telescope, I saw the ship hove
in stays, I observed that the operation of swinging the after yards
seemed to be only partially performed, while the head sails remained
aback for an unconscionable length of time, from which I concluded that
at that precise moment events were happening on board her. When, some
five minutes later, I saw her yards trimmed, and presently observed her
come about again and bear away for the lagoon, instead of holding her
luff down the river, I was able to make a pretty accurate guess as to
what had happened. I remained aloft, however, until she slid through
the narrow channel leading from the river into the lagoon, when I saw
that she had all our boats towing astern of her in a string; whereupon I
descended, for I knew that to betoken the fact that she was now in the
possession of our people.

She came along very fast, and as she drew nearer I saw that she was an
exceedingly handsome vessel, by far the most handsome, indeed, that I
had ever seen. She was frigate-built, seven hundred and forty tons
measurement, her three masts accurately parallel, raking slightly aft,
and stayed to a hair, while her snow-white canvas was more beautifully
cut than that of many a yacht. She was painted black all over--hull,
masts, and yards; and her royal yards ho