Necessary orders were given, and soon the _Columbia_ swung around on
another tack, so that she had the large vessel on her starboard quarter.
But this movement was evidently noted by the stranger, and the latter
headed directly for the schooner once more.

"She is after us, that is positive," said Captain Ponsberry.

"There is a bank of mist over to the northward," returned Larry. "Why
not run into that?"

"Well spoken, lad; we'll do it, and as soon as the mist hides us we can
go over on the other tack and throw her off the scent."

The mist the young second mate had mentioned was nearly a quarter of a
mile away and it was a question whether they could reach it before the
stranger came up. But fortune favored those on the schooner. The mist
rolled toward them, and in less than two minutes they were hidden as
completely as could be desired.

"Now to get entirely out of the way," exclaimed Captain Ponsberry, and
lost not a moment in having the sails shifted and a new course set.
Through the mist they heard the other vessel steaming around noisily and
did their best to keep as far away as possible from the sound.

All during that evening and the night to follow the _Columbia_ kept to
her new course. This was taking her away from Nagasaki, but this could
not be helped. The captain said if it became absolutely necessary he
would run into some other Japanese port.

When daybreak came the mist was as thick as ever. But there were signs
that it would not last much longer, and by nine o'clock the sun was
struggling to come through the clouds. Nearly everybody was on deck, for
they realized that a fatal moment might be at hand.

"There she is!"

The cry came from half a dozen throats simultaneously. There, on the
port bow, loomed up the stranger, not an eighth of a mile away. That she
was a warship there was no longer any doubt, for her forward guns were
plainly to be seen.

"We're caught now!" muttered Tom Grandon.

"Not yet!" cried the captain, and gave orders to throw the _Columbia_
over on a new course. But scarcely had this movement been made when
there was a puff of smoke from the warship, a report, and a shot flew in
front of the schooner's bow.

"There's our order to lay-to!" ejaculated Larry. "Whoever she is, she
means business."

As the _Columbia_ did not stop, another shot was fired, this time just
grazing the bow. Seeing there was no help for it, Captain Ponsberry gave
the necessary orders, and down