en no longer; though the attentive black thought that the
mast-heads and the rigging beneath the tops thickened, as if surrounded by
more than their usual mazes of ropes. At that moment of suspense, the
cloud over the Raritan emitted a flash, and the sound of distant thunder
rolled along the water. This seemed to be a signal for the cruiser; for
when the eye of Bonnie, which had been directed to the heavens, returned
towards the ship, he saw that she had opened and hoisted her three
top-sails, seemingly with as little exertion as an eagle would have spread
his wings. The ship now became uneasy; for the wind came in puffs, and the
vessel rolled lightly, as if struggling to extricate itself from the hold
of its anchor; and then, precisely at the moment when the shift of wind
was felt, an the breeze came from the cloud in the west, the cruiser
whirled away from its constrained position and appearing, for a short
space, restless as a steed that had broken from its fastenings, it came up
neatly to the wind, and lay balanced by the action of its sails. There was
another minute, or two, of seeming inactivity, after which the broad
surfaces of the top-sails were brought in parallel lines. One white sheet
was spread after another, upon the fabric; and Bonnie saw that the
Coquette, the swiftest cruiser of the crown in those seas, was dashing out
from the land, under a cloud of canvas.

All this time, the brigantine, in the Cove, lay quietly at her anchor.
When the wind shifted, the light hull swang with its currents, and the
image of the sea-green lady was seen offering her dark cheek to be fanned
by the breeze. But she alone seemed to watch over the fortunes of her
followers; for no other eye could be seen, looking out on the danger that
began so seriously to threaten them, both from the heavens, and from a
more certain and intelligible, foe.

As the wind was fresh, though unsteady, the Coquette moved through the
water with a velocity that did no discredit to her reputation for speed.
At first, it seemed to be the intention of the royal cruiser to round the
cape, and gain an offing in the open sea; for her head was directed
northwardly; but no sooner had she cleared the curve of the little bight
which from its shape is known by the name of the Horse-Shoe, than she was
seen shooting directly into the eye of the wind, and falling off with the
graceful and easy motion of a ship in stays, her head looking towards the
Lust in Rust. H