night approached,
however, the wind began to decrease, and the sea, having no great
distance to run, went down. Whether this was likely to be an advantage
to us or not was now to be proved. As the last rays of the sun ere he
set glanced horizontally across the ocean, they fell on the stranger's
canvas down to the foot of her courses. Still our stout-hearted captain
did not despair.

"We will do what we can to give the fellow the go-by, and may outwit
him, clever as he thinks himself," he said, laughing. "Aloft there, and
set the fore-royal," he shouted; and this being done, the foretopmast
studding-sails were again rigged out, thus exhibiting a broad sheet of
canvas to the eyes of our pursuer, which would probably make him suppose
that we intended to continue our course directly before the wind. The
sun had now sunk, but we could yet distinguish through the fast
gathering gloom the sail astern. Captain Magor now ordered the mainsail
to be hauled out, and the main-topsail and maintop-gallant-sail to be
set. By the time this was done, not even the outlines of the stranger
could be perceived astern.

"Take in studdin'-sails," cried the captain.

These by the united efforts of the crew, wildly fluttering, were hauled
down without a spar being lost. The fore-royal was then furled.
"Starboard the helm," was the next order given. "Haul on the starboard
fore and main braces," he then sang out, and the brig was brought to the
wind on the larboard tack. No sooner did she feel its power, as the
yards were braced sharp up, the tacks hauled down, and the braces and
bowlines sheeted home, than she heeled over to the force of the wind,
which was still considerable, although it did not appear to when we were
running before it. "If the stranger does not discover our change of
course, she will be well away to leeward before morning, and we shall
see no more of her," said Captain Magor, addressing Harry and me. "I
don't want to expose the lives of you young gentlemen to danger, or to
risk the loss of our cargo, I daresay you felt not a little anxious, but
you may turn in and sleep soundly, with the prospect of making the coast
of Africa in another day or two at furthest. We will have some food
first though, for you have been on deck ever since dinner; you'll be
hungry. Quambo!" he shouted, "let's have some supper on table as soon
as possible."

"Him dare 'ready, captain," answered the black steward, "only wait de
young