intently for several minutes, I felt convinced that she
was still receding from us. I had given strict orders that the lanterns
should be allowed to remain burning on deck, just as the pirates had
left them, that no other lights should be kindled anywhere about the
ship except where it was possible to effectually mask their light, and
that no one should show anything of himself above the level of the
topgallant-rail upon any consideration; but now, the brigantine having
been gone from us rather more than two hours, I gave instructions that
all the lanterns on deck and all lights of every kind visible from
outside the ship might be simultaneously extinguished, so that, should
anybody happen to be watching our lights, they might come to the
conclusion that the ship had filled and we were gone to the bottom.
This done, I mustered my entire crew and, first hoisting in the
long-boat, sent them aloft to stow all the lighter sails, so that we
might not be wholly unprepared should the change of weather that now
seemed impending be ushered in with a squall. This occupied the men a
full hour and a half, at the end of which, having brought the ship into
tolerably manageable condition, I gave them permission to lie down and
snatch a nap if they could, but to hold themselves ready for any
emergency that might arise.

It was by this time long past midnight, and so pitchy dark that, all
lights having been extinguished, it was impossible to see one end of the
poop from the other. The stars had all vanished, and the silence was so
profound as to be quite oppressive, not even the sound of the pirate's
sweeps now being audible; though whether they had been laid in, or
whether the vessel had increased her distance so greatly as to have
passed beyond the range of sound, I knew not, but I strongly suspected
the former contingency. This profound silence was maintained for nearly
an hour, and then my hearing--rendered unusually acute no doubt by the
intense darkness that enveloped me--once more became conscious of a
regular, measured, rhythmical sound, the sound of sweeps again being
plied, and, without doubt, on board the _Francesca_. What did it mean?
Had Mendouca, in his feverish and painful condition, grown impatient of
delay and ordered the sweeps to be again manned, after having given
instructions for them to be laid in? Or, as my forebodings whispered to
me, had the absence of myself and others been already discovered, and
was the