thought it was a great deal too much, but did not like to say so.

Bowse looked at the stranger before answering.

"I only hope she will try to carry a great deal more," he replied.
"See, they are beginning to follow our example."

The polacca brig had now not only set her foresail and mainsail, but had
also shaken another reef out of her topsails. She thus already had more
sail on her than the _Zodiac_.

"Now, then," said Bowse, "if we do but hold our own, she will begin to
think we shall escape her, and they will be shaking another of those
reefs out."

"If they do, they will just get the drop in the pitcher too much," said
the mate.

"That's just what I wish they may do," replied the master. "But, ah!
hold on for your lives, my lads."

A dark, circling wave appeared directly ahead of the vessel, as if it
had risen suddenly out of the water. She rose at it like a bold hunter,
without hesitation, attempting to take a high fence beyond his powers.
Its force was too great for her, she stopped, and trembled in every
timber, then again she tried, and dashing headlong into it, the watery
hill came thundering down on her decks, tearing away her long boat and
spare spars, hencoops, caboose, and water casks, and, making a breach
through the lee-bulwarks, washed them overboard. Had not the hatches
been well secured the _Zodiac_, with all in her, might never have risen
again. Cries of terror were heard, and many a bold seaman turned pale;
but none of the crew were injured, and the ship again flew buoyantly
onward.

"That's what we may call our drop too much," said the mate. "Don't you
think we ought to take some of the canvas off her, sir?"

"Timmins, we've long known each other, and you know I'm no coward; but I
tell you that my conviction is, that there will be no child's play with
that fellow astern if he comes alongside us. Heaven only knows who'll
come off the best if it comes to blows. He has twice as many guns as we
have, if not more, and longer pieces, depend on it, and, probably, five
times as many hands. These are fearful odds, and I don't think any man
can say it's cowardly to shrink from them. I know, too, the sort of
fellows those are on board yonder craft, and sooner than fall into their
power, I would run the brig, and all in her, under water. Till she made
sail in chase, I had my doubts about her; I now have none. You see I
don't risk the loss of our masts without good cause, and now see to