followed, passed almost as close to
leeward; and the third came straight enough, but fell just short of us.

After this he fired no more.

"Very cleverly managed, I call that, Harry," said Bob, as soon as we
found ourselves once more out of range. "We can now take things
quietly; and as it's your watch below, I'd recommend you to turn in and
get a bit of a snooze. It's your eight hours out to-night, my lad, and
if the breeze should happen to freshen about sundown, and that chap
comes after us--and, by the piper, he means that same, for I'm blest if
he isn't in stays--you'll need to keep both eyes open all your watch."

This was good advice, and I at once proceeded to adopt it, cautioning
Bob to be sure to call me without delay in the event of any further
complication arising.

I had not been below above two minutes when I heard his voice shouting
to me to come on deck again. Wondering what was now in the wind, I
sprang up the short companion-ladder, and my eye at once falling upon
the brig (which was now dead astern of us, heading in the same direction
as ourselves, though not lying so close to the wind), I saw in a moment
that our troubles were not yet by any means over.

The wind had by this time fallen so light that we were not making above
three knots' way through the water, whilst the pirate appeared barely to
have steerage-way--in fact, his canvas was flapping to the mast with
every sluggish roll which the vessel took over the long, scarcely
perceptible swell.

Friend Johnson was evidently greatly nettled at our having slipped so
handsomely through his fingers as we had, and seemed determined to have
a word or two with us yet, whether we would or no; for he had lowered
one of his boats, and she was just leaving the vessel in chase.

I took the glass, and counted six men at the oars, besides one or two (I
could not be sure which) in the stern-sheets.

This was serious indeed; for a light boat, propelled by six good
oarsmen, would go about two feet to our one at our then rate of sailing,
and must necessarily soon overhaul us.

Our case appeared pretty nearly desperate; but a seaman never gives up
"whilst there is a shot in the locker," or a fresh expedient to be
tried. So I directed Bob to keep the cutter away about three points,
and then lash the tiller, and lend me a hand to get our balloon canvas
set.

The topsail was shifted in next to no time, and then we got the
spinnaker to the bowsprit-end,