sternation on board the
_Manilla_, particularly among the passengers; while even I, with all my
knowledge of Captain Winter's indomitable courage, resource, and skill,
could not but feel exceedingly anxious as to the result of his impending
contest with so greatly superior a force. True, the memory of our
gallant fight with and brilliant capture of the _Musette_ frigate was
still fresh in my memory; but I regarded that affair rather as a piece
of exceptional good luck than as the result of superior gallantry on our
part, and it was quite on the cards that in the present case luck might
go over to the side of the enemy. As in the case of the _Musette_, a
fortunate shot might make all the difference between victory and defeat,
and it was too much to expect that such good fortune as had then
attended us would always be ours. Be it understood, I was in nowise
fearful of personal capture. I felt pretty confident that the skipper
would be quite able to occupy the attention of the frigate long enough
to enable the _Manilla_ to make good her escape; but, that accomplished,
would he be able also to save himself? Moved by so keen a feeling of
anxiety as I have indicated, it will not be wondered at that I had no
sooner got the Indiaman before the wind, with every stitch of canvas
spread that I could pack upon her, than I devoted my whole attention to
the movements of the three craft which were about to take part in the
forthcoming ocean-drama.

There was no outward sign of any hesitancy or doubt whatever in the
movements of either vessel. The frigate had borne away into our wake
the moment that we had borne away, and was now foaming along after us in
gallant style, with studding-sails set on both sides, from the royals
down; and was of course coming up with us, hand over hand. There was no
question as to her intentions; she was after us, and meant to catch us
if she could. On the other hand, the brigantine and schooner, under all
plain sail, were stretching away to windward, close-hauled on the
larboard tack, with a space of only a hundred fathoms or so dividing
them, the brigantine leading. It looked as though the two vessels were
about to engage the frigate on the same side, which,--if it was to be a
running fight, as seemed probable,--was sound judgment on Captain
Winter's part, since it would enable the frigate to use only one
broadside, and so virtually reduce her weight of metal by one-half. The
two craft continued