verge. Then, about
the end of the second hour of the chase, by which time we had lifted the
stranger's main topsail-yard above the horizon, and had discovered that
she was barque-rigged, the breeze suddenly freshened up sufficiently to
add an extra knot and a half to our speed. But this was a misfortune
rather than otherwise for us: for although it increased our speed, it
also increased that of the stranger, when it reached her, which it did
about ten minutes later; and whereas it added only about a knot and a
half to our rate of travel, it probably quickened up her pace by more
than double that amount, as was painfully apparent from the increased
frequency with which we were obliged to edge away to keep her square
abeam. And now the anxiety which I had all along felt began to be
shared by the others, one or another of whom kept Cunningham's telescope
continually bearing upon the barque. They began to fidget where they
sat, to mutter and grumble under their breath, and to cast frequent
looks at the sky astern, which had not materially altered its aspect
since the morning, except that the haze had thickened somewhat. At last
the boatswain could restrain himself no longer.

"If this here humbuggin' breeze'd only drop," he grumbled, "we'd out
oars and pull to her. But it ain't goin' to drop, that's the worst of
it, it's agoin' to freshen still furder; and that cussed old hooker's
goin' to run away from us, that's what she's agoin' to do. Let's have a
look at that there glass again, Mr Cunnin'ham," he continued. "I can't
make out what they're a-thinkin' about aboard her. It's fine weather,
and surely there ought to be some work to be done aloft." Here he got
the telescope to bear upon her for at least the tenth time since the
chase had begun, and relapsed into temporary silence, while he subjected
every visible part of her to a most searching scrutiny. Presently he
resumed, with animation: "Ah! I thought it'd be strange if her bos'n
couldn't find somethin' that wanted doin' aloft in such fine weather as
this. Just you take this here glass, Mr Temple--Chips'll catch hold of
the tiller for a minute or two--and see if there ain't a man sittin'
astride of her weather main tawps'l-yardarm doin' somethin' or other."

I handed over the tiller to Chips, took the telescope, and raised the
eyepiece to my eye. Instantly I had a small but exquisitely clear
picture of the three masts of the distant barque, from the level o