ircumstances, even if the laws of war would have
sanctioned it. After some deliberation, he took a middle course, and
announced that he should keep the American ship by him till daylight,
when, if his senior officer should be in sight, he should take her
down to him, to be dealt with as Captain Cockburn might decide: if, on
the other hand, the _Minerve_ should not be in sight, he would, on his
own responsibility, allow the _Hercules_ to proceed on her voyage. In
the meantime, both vessels should return towards the point fixed on by
Captain Cockburn as a rendezvous. 'And this,' he observed, 'ought to
satisfy all parties, as the _Hercules_ would be thereby brought nearer
to her destination, which was more than her captain deserved, after
the needless chase he had led the _Vincejo_.' This announcement
seemed extremely unpalatable to the Yankee captain; and from a very
energetic discussion which took place in under-tones between him and
his passengers, it was evident they were dissuading him earnestly from
some course which he was bent on taking. This was pointed out to
Captain Long as an additional circumstance of suspicion, that there
was something wrong about the American; and he was strongly urged to
detain her, at all events, till he could get the opinion of Captain
Cockburn: but he adhered to his decision. 'Ay, ay,' said he to the
representations of his first-lieutenant; 'it's all very well for you,
gentlemen. You share in the prize-money, but not in the responsibility
of our captures; _that_ rests upon me. And as I really think there is
no ground for detaining the fellow, I'll not do more than I have
said.'

Morning came; and with its first dawn many anxious eyes on board both
vessels were scanning the horizon in hope or fear. The vessels had
made good much of the distance they had run in the chase, and the bold
cliffs of the coast between Genoa and Nice were distinctly visible
from the mast-head to the north and west, but no _Minerve_ greeted the
searching gaze of the _Vincejo's_ look-out. The frigate was nowhere to
be seen. The first-lieutenant of the _Vincejo_ having communicated
this fact to Captain Long, and made one more effort to prevail on him
to detain the _Hercules_, till they could rejoin their senior officer,
was most reluctantly compelled to give the order for communicating to
the captain of that ship that she was free. The American did not wait
for a second permission. Sail was made with all speed; and