ore than a few seconds at a time.

When first discovered, they were hull down, and only just
distinguishable in the darkness as two vague blots of black against the
lowering gloom of the night sky; but the trade wind was piping up rather
stronger than usual that night, while we and the strangers were
approaching each other on a nearly straight line. We consequently
closed each other rapidly, and within about twenty minutes from the
moment of their discovery we were able to make out that one of the twain
was a full-rigged ship, while the other seemed to be a large brigantine;
and a few minutes later I discovered that the ship was showing a much
broader spread of canvas than the brigantine, thus proving the latter to
be the faster craft of the two. It was scarcely likely, therefore, that
the ship was a frigate; and if not that, she must be a merchantman, and
doubtless the prize of the brigantine.

At this point, the question suggested itself to me: Might not the
brigantine be Morillo's craft? She appeared to be about the same size,
so far as it was possible to distinguish in the darkness; and if so, it
would fully account for the boldness with which she held on upon her
course, instead of heaving about and endeavouring to avoid a possible
enemy--for doubtless they had made us out almost if not quite at the
same time as we had discovered them. I most fervently hoped it might be
as I surmised, for, if so, I should have the fellow at advantage,
inasmuch as he would doubtless have put a fairly strong prize crew on
board the ship, which would proportionately weaken his own crew. Full
of the hope that this Ishmael of the sea might be about to place himself
within my power, I caused all hands to be called, and, having first made
sail, sent them to quarters, the gunner at the same time descending to
the magazine and sending up a plentiful supply of powder and shot. By
the time that we were ready, the brigantine and her consort had neared
us to within a couple of miles, the two craft closing meanwhile,
doubtless for the purpose of communicating instructions. That they were
quite prepared to fight aboard the brigantine was perfectly evident, for
we could see that her deck was lit up with lanterns, the light of which,
shining through her ports, enabled me to ascertain that she mounted six
guns of a side. Both craft held their luff, but it was now quite clear
that the brigantine was much the faster and more weatherly of the t