ts to pass to and fro. Captain
Stanhope, therefore, sent word to Mr Leigh to retain the remainder of
the prisoners, and should the frigates get parted, to steer for Marrack,
the nearest port on the Java coast where shelter could be found. The
fort protecting the harbour had a short time before been captured by
Lieutenant Lyons with two boats' crews. The captain's last directions
to Lieutenant Leigh were to keep a sharp look-out on his prisoners. The
wind increased, and the night became very dark. The English crew
remained on deck, but most of the Frenchmen went below. All the sail
the frigate could carry was set, but it soon became evident that she was
making little or no way off the shore.

Captain Stanhope had directed Mr Leigh to keep the lead going, and to
anchor should the prize drift into shoal water. He accordingly ordered
the cables to be ranged ready for that emergency. Owen had been
actively engaged the whole day, and Mr Leigh had employed him to carry
orders to the different parties at work. Soon after nightfall the
"Sylvia" was lost sight of; as, for her own safety, she had been
compelled to get a good offing, Captain Stanhope not being willing to
run the risk of anchoring on a lee shore. His intention was, however,
to stand in the next morning and rejoin the prize. Had the wind been
but moderate, the "Venus" would have run but little risk. Blowing,
however, heavily, as it now did, Mr Leigh could not help acknowledging
that they were in considerable danger. Though under reduced sail, she
fortunately stayed very easily. The lieutenant, therefore, did not
hesitate to go about as often as he considered necessary. A look-out
was kept for the land, and every time she tacked the lead was hove, but
as no bottom had yet been found, it was hoped she might yet be a
considerable distance from it. The French crew had remained quietly
below, one or two only occasionally coming on deck, apparently to
ascertain the position of the ship.

Strange that even at this time of peril Mr Ashurst should have treated
Owen in his usual tyrannical manner. He never met him without uttering
a word of abuse. Two or three times he took up a rope's end and struck
him, declaring that he was idling or not obeying orders. At last Owen
could bear it no longer.

"You are perfectly well aware, Mr Ashurst, that you have no right to
treat me thus," he said in a firm voice. "You are placing yourself in
my power, for were I to