eck, or looked over the bulwark with
serious and foreboding aspects; the foreigners, particularly, began to
curse their fate, and considered their voyage and anticipated profits at
an end. McElvina, perceiving their discontent, ordered the men aft, and
addressed them:--

"My lads, I have often been in a worse scrape, and have weathered it;
nor do I know but what we may yet manage to get out of this, if you will
pay strict attention to my orders, and behave in that cool and brave
manner which I have reason to expect from you. Much, if not all,
depends upon whether the captain of that frigate is a `_new hand_' or
not: if he is an old channel groper, we shall have some difficulty; but,
however, we will try for it, and if we do not succeed, at least we shall
have the satisfaction of knowing, that we did our best both for
ourselves and our employers."

McElvina then proceeded to explain to his crew the manoeuvre that he
intended to practise, to obtain the weather-gage of the frigate, upon
which their only chance of escape would depend, and the men returned to
their stations, if not contented, at least with increased confidence in
their captain, and strong hopes of success.

As the day closed, the frigate was within a mile of the lugger, and
coming up with him hand over hand. The breeze was strong, and the water
was no longer in ripples, but curled over in short waves to the
influence of the blast. The frigate yawed a little--the smoke from her
bow-chaser was followed by an instantaneous report, and the shot dashed
into the water close under the stern of the lugger. "Sit down under the
bulwarks; sit down, my lads, and keep all fast," said McElvina. "He'll
soon be tired of that; he has lost more than a cable's length already."
McElvina was correct in his supposition; the commander of the frigate
perceived that he had lost too much ground by deviating from his course,
and the evening was closing in. He fired no more. Both vessels
continued their course--the smuggler particularly attentive in keeping
the three masts of her pursuer in one, to prevent her from firing into
her, or to oblige her to drop astern if she did.

Half an hour more, and as the sun's lower limb touched the horizon, the
frigate was within musket-shot of the lugger, and the marines, who had
been ordered forward, commenced a heavy fire upon her, to induce her to
lower her sails and surrender; but in vain. By the directions of their
captain, the men