k on the
following morning, and heading in toward the land once more, at the same
time shaking the reefs out of our topsails. An hour later the lookout
aloft reported a sail to leeward; and, on signalling the fact to the
admiral, the _Hermione_ received permission to chase.

We managed to approach within ten miles of the stranger without exciting
his suspicions; but shortly afterwards a doubt appeared to enter his
mind as to the honesty of our intentions, and he tacked, no doubt with
the object of ascertaining whether our business had anything to do with
him or not. He soon found that it _had_; for before he was fairly round
our course had been altered so as to intercept him. This sufficed to
thoroughly alarm him, and, wearing short round, he went square off
before the wind, setting every stitch of canvas his little vessel--a
schooner of some seventy tons--could spread to the breeze. The chase
now showed herself to be a very smart little craft, staggering along
under her cloud of canvas in a really surprising manner; indeed, had the
pursuit lasted an hour longer we should probably have lost her, for she
was within five miles of the harbour of Jean Rabel when we succeeded in
bringing her to.

The obstinate craft having at length consented to back her topsail,
Courtenay was sent away in the gig, with the crew fully armed, to give
her an overhaul.

He remained on board nearly half an hour, and when he returned he
brought the skipper of the schooner, a negro, with him. The little
vessel, it now appeared, was a coaster, sailing under French colours,
and was bound from Jean Rabel to Porto Caballo. She was consequently a
prize, though utterly valueless to us; and Courtenay's instructions had
been that, if such proved to be the case, he was to take her crew out of
her and set her on fire. She, however, belonged to the negro who
commanded her, and he had begged so earnestly that his property might be
spared, and had backed up his petition by representations of so
important a nature, that Courtenay had deemed it best, before carrying
out his instructions, to bring the man on board the _Hermione_, and give
him an interview with Captain Pigot. The skipper was in his cabin when
the gig returned alongside, so Courtenay went in and made his report,
the result being that the negro was speedily admitted to Captain Pigot's
presence. The next thing that happened was the summoning of the first
lieutenant to the cabin, Courtenay