teamers proceeded
into the Sea of Azov, while the remainder were sent along the coast to
look out for any vessels which might have been concealed in any of the
inlets or deep bays with which it is everywhere indented. The _Tornado_
was ordered on this service, greatly to the disappointment of her crew,
who expected to have more stirring work within the Straits.

She had just lost sight of the fleet, when standing in as close as she
could venture, Jos Green, who was forward, observed a light cloud of
smoke ascending above a rocky point, the summit of which was feathered
with a grove of lofty trees. It was a question, however, whether the
smoke proceeded from a fire on shore or from the funnel of a steamer.
Green inclined to the latter opinion. It had moved some distance since
he first sighted it, he declared, so that it must come from a steamer on
her way out to sea. The _Tornado_ stood on, keeping as close inshore as
possible, so that her presence might not be discovered till the other
vessel had got well clear of the point; after that, Jack hoped to get up
to her before she could run in anywhere else for shelter.

A suppressed cheer from those on deck showed that Green was right, and
the _Tornado_ stood away after the stranger. The latter was no laggard,
and it was soon evident that the _Tornado_ must do her best if she was
to come up with her. The chase, though a vessel of some size, showed no
inclination to come to close quarters with her pursuer.

"If we can but keep her in sight, we shall catch her at last," said
Jack; "and if she runs into any harbour, we must follow her, or send the
boats in after her."

"We haven't had anything so exciting for a long time," said Tom; "I hope
that we may have to cut her out with the boats."

"Her crew will blow her up sooner than let us do that," observed Archie;
"the Russians seem to be fonder of that sort of thing than fighting."

The chase, however, kept well ahead, and there seemed a good prospect,
should night come on, of her escaping altogether. Still the _Tornado_
was really going faster than the Russian vessel, though so slight was
the difference of speed, that at first it was scarcely discernible. At
length, however, Jack considered that he had got the Russian vessel
within range of his long guns, and was on the point of issuing the order
to fire, when a shot from her came flying across the intervening space,
but fell some twenty fathoms or so short of its m