a quarter of an hour, Will said:

"I don't think she gains upon us at all; lower a sail over the bow to
deaden her way. A small topsail will do; I only want to check her half a
knot an hour."

It was an hour before the schooner yawed and fired her bow-guns.

"That is good," Will said to Dimchurch; "it shows that she doesn't carry a
long-tom. I thought she didn't, but they might have hidden it, as we have
done. Don't answer them yet; I don't want to fire till we get within half
a mile of her; then they shall have it as hot as they like."

The schooner continued to gain slowly, occasionally firing her
bow-chasers. When she had come up to within a mile of _L'Agile_ the cutter
was yawed and two broadside guns fired; they were purposely aimed somewhat
wide, as Will was anxious that the pirates should not suspect the weight
of his metal, and did not wish, by inflicting some small injury, to deter
her from continuing the chase. The schooner evidently depended upon the
vastly superior strength of her crew to carry the cutter by boarding, and
so abstained from attempting to injure her, as the less damage she
suffered the better value she would be as a prize.

"They are not more than half a mile off now, I think, sir," Dimchurch said
at last.

"Very well then, we will let her have it."

The gun was already loaded, so Dimchurch took a steady aim and applied the
match. All leapt upon the bulwarks to see the effect of the shot, and a
cheer broke from the crew as it struck the schooner on the bow, about four
feet above the water. In return the schooner yawed so as to bring her
whole broadside to bear on the cutter, and six tongues of flame flashed
from her side. At the same moment _L'Agile_ swung round and fired her two
starboard guns. Both ships immediately resumed their former positions, and
as they did so Dimchurch fired again, his shot scattering a shower of
splinters from almost the same spot as the other had struck.

"You must elevate your gun a little more, Dimchurch," said Will, "and
bring a mast about their ears. Get that sail on board!" he shouted; "I
don't want the schooner to get any nearer."

The order was executed, and the difference in the speed of the cutter was
at once manifest. Again and again Dimchurch fired. Several of the shot
went through the schooner's foresail, but as yet her masts were untouched.

"A little more to the right, Dimchurch."

This time the sailor was longer than usual in taking aim, bu