t her; and we
knew he would conduct her into the inner harbour. It was a beautiful
sight watching her as she skimmed along the surface, looking larger and
larger as she approached.

"What do you think of her now? She must be the _Emu_!" I exclaimed.

"She may be," said Van Graoul; "but stop till we get her within range of
our guns."

She came quite close. With our glasses we could even distinguish the
people on board. Some of our crew declared that she was the very brig
which had so strangely escaped from us among the Pater Nosters. On she
came under full sail. We were in hopes that she would come directly
into the harbour, when just as she approached it her helm was put down,
her yards braced up, her foresail backed to the mast; and while she lay
to, a boat, which was lowered and manned, was seen to pull towards the
shore.

"Ah, she does not like to come where she may meet honest people,"
observed Van Graoul. "That looks suspicious."

The boat was a large gig, pulled by six oars. She came in, we thought,
to reconnoitre.

"Now, what do you think of seizing the boat, and holding the people as
hostages till they deliver up the ladies?" exclaimed Fairburn. "If she
is honest, we shall run the risk of being accused of committing an act
of piracy; but if she is the _Emu_, our object may thus easily be
obtained."

"By all means; let us seize her. I would run every risk," I answered.

"Yes; we will catch her, if we can," answered Van Graoul.

Our boats were accordingly lowered and commanded. Fairburn commanded
one, and Barlow another, and I took a third, with the intention of
endeavouring to cut her off, and capture her without bloodshed. We lay
in wait, eager for the word to shove off and go in chase. If we found
that we were mistaken, there would be no harm done. The people in the
boat would be a little astonished, and angry perhaps at being taken for
pirates; but the importance of the object was worth the risk, and must
serve as our excuse. We got a spring also on our cable, and every
preparation was made to get under weigh in an instant, and to make sail
in chase, should the brig appear to have taken the alarm. Van Graoul
remained on board in command; and a hand was stationed aloft to watch
the progress of the boat. Our intention was, not to seize her till the
last moment before her people landed, or while half were in the boat and
the others actually stepping on shore. On she came--those in he