t was
in broadsides or by single guns, and how often it occurred. So I hailed
him to report every time he heard anything. Presently he hailed again:

"Another gun, sir!"

I took the time. Not quite a minute had elapsed when he again reported:

"Another gun, sir, but not so loud this time. I think it was a lighter
piece than the last."

It was nearly five minutes before the next report was made, so I
concluded that it must be a running fight--a chase, in fact--which was
going forward.

An interval of perhaps a minute passed, when I distinctly caught the
sound of a faint _boom_! and at the same moment the hail came down:

"Another gun, sir--a heavier one than the last; and sail ho! three
points on the weather bow."

"That will do," I replied; "you need not report the firing any further,
but keep a sharp lookout for another sail. What is the one in sight
like?"

"I can hardly tell at this distance, sir; the heads of her royals are
only just showing above the horizon, but they don't appear to be of any
great size."

Some four minutes later a second sail was reported, as I had expected;
the lookout now expressing an opinion that the new-comer was probably a
frigate, whilst the smaller craft, the leader in the race, was either a
ship-sloop or a brig. My other midshipman, a lad named Boyne, was now
on deck, having relieved Marchmont at noon, and this youngster, who had
taken the precaution to bring his telescope on deck with him, now
started forward and, with the agility of a monkey, soon placed himself
alongside the lookout. He immediately raised the telescope to his eye,
but we were by this time jumping into a short but lumpy sea, which made
the motion aloft very considerable; moreover, the position was not one
very favourable for observation, so he was rather a long time bringing
his glass to bear. At length, however, with the assistance of the
lookout, he managed to get both craft, one after the other, into his
field of vision, and after a good long look he reported:

"We are raising the strangers very fast, sir; I can see the royals and
half-way down the topgallant-sails of both. They are running dead
before the wind, with royal studding-sails set on both sides; the
leading ship is a brig, apparently British, and the one in chase seems
to be a frigate."

"Thank you, Mr Boyne," I replied. "Just stay there a little longer, if
you please; keep your eye on the strangers and report anything
noteworthy