It had been my intention, originally, to speak the strange ship, as I had told Sennit; but seeing there was no probability of her altering her course, so as to pass the boat, I changed my purpose, and stood directly athwart her fore-foot, at about half a mile’s distance.  I set the Yankee bunting, and she showed the English ensign, in return.  Had she been French, however, it would have made no odds to me; for, what did I care about my late captors becoming prisoners of war?  They had endeavoured to benefit themselves at my cost, and I was willing enough to benefit myself at theirs.

We made our preparations for setting studding sails now, though I thought there were signs of a desire in the Englishman to speak me.  I knew he must be armed, and felt no wish to gratify him, inasmuch as he might take it into his head to make some inquiries concerning the boat, which if not already visible from his decks, soon must be.  I was certain the Dawn, deep as she was, would go four feet to the Indiaman’s three, and, once past him, I had no apprehensions in the event of a chase.

The English ship caught sight of the boat, when we were about a mile on his lee quarter, with lower and top-mast studding-sails set, going quite eight knots, on a due east course.  We became aware of the fact, by her hoisting a jack at the fore.  From that moment I gave myself no concern on the subject of Sennit and his prize-crew.  Twenty minutes later, we saw the ship back her main-top-sail, and, by means of the glasses, we plainly perceived the boat alongside of her.  After some delay, the yawl was hoisted on the deck of the ship, and the latter filled her top-sail.  I had some curiosity to ascertain what would come next.  It would seem that Sennit actually induced the master of the West-Indiaman to give chase; for, no sooner did the vessel gather way, than she bore up, after us, packing on everything that would draw.  We were greatly rejoiced at having improved the leisure time, in making sail ourselves; for, having a lower studding-sail and two top-mast studding-sails on the ship, when this race began, I did not feel much apprehension of being overtaken.  By way of making more sure of an escape, however, we set the royals.

When the West-Indiaman bore up in chase, we were about two leagues ahead of our pursuer.  So far from lessening this distance, though she carried royal studding-sails, we gradually increased it to three, until, satisfied he could do nothing, the master of the strange ship took in his light sails, and hauled by the wind again, carrying the late prize-crew in a direct line from England.  I afterwards learned that Sennit and his companions were actually landed in the island of Barbadoes, after a pleasant passage of only twenty-six days.  I make no doubt it took them much longer to get back again; for it was certain not one of them had reappeared in England six months from that day.

We now had the ship to ourselves, though with a very diminished crew.  The day was the time to sleep; and relieving each other at the wheel, those who were off duty, slept most of the time, when they were not eating.  At six in the evening, however, all hands were up, making our preparations for the night.