ing calculated on
what I should certainly propose doing. Bill Nettle was a good man and
true, so that I knew I could thoroughly depend on all my small crew,
and, having made every preparation, we waited till the schooner got
within range of our guns. We had not long to wait. The gale bore her
quickly towards us, and I almost thought she intended to run us down.
Were she to overpower us there was too much sea to allow her to send a
boat on board to take possession. She got within range, still she did
not fire.

"She is unarmed, I suspect," said I.

"No, no, sir," replied Grampus. "She is armed, depend on that. She is
up to some trick or other."

On she came, passing close to us. The American flag was flying from the
peak. I could not make out the mystery. In another moment, however, it
was explained. For an instant the fog lifted, and showed us a large
ship under a press of sail, standing directly after her. We cheered at
the sight, for we had no difficulty in recognising the Orpheus, and at
the same moment we ran out and let fly every gun we could bring to bear
at the rigging of the stranger. One shot, directed by chance, certainly
not by skill, struck her main-topmast, and down it came tumbling on
deck. We hastened to reload our guns as fast as we could. She gave us
a broadside from her guns in return, but the shot were thrown away. She
stood on, however, but we had not a little diminished her chance of
escape. The Orpheus was soon up to us, passing within hail.

"Well done, Mr Hurry, well done!" shouted Captain Hudson. "We will
send you help as soon as we can."

His commendation was no little satisfaction to me. It was a fine sight
to see the noble ship sweeping by, her white canvas looking whiter amid
the dark clouds and the sheets of foam which surrounded her, as, pressed
by the gale, she heeled over, till her lee guns dipped in the water as
she plunged on through the heaving seas which she majestically cast
aside in her course. I longed to be on board her, though I should have
speedily changed from a commander into a midshipman. Away she went, her
vast form growing each instant more indistinct, like one of the genii
one reads about in tales of romance, till she disappeared altogether in
the thick driving mist, and once more we were left alone, so that her
very appearance seemed almost like a dream, and I began at last to
question whether I really had seen her. We watched anxiously for her,