in their haste to get away from the frigate, was that of leaving six or eight muskets, with several cartridge-boxes, behind them.  With these weapons, it would have been easy for us to have given the privateersmen such a hint, as would not fail to keep them at bay.  Then I always had my pistols, which were not only valuable implements, but were double-barrelled and well loaded.  Our only ground of alarm, therefore, came from the Englishman.

Possibly, Monsieur Le Gros thought differently; for his chase was animated, and apparently in earnest.  But, notwithstanding all his zeal, the Dawn left him astern, going through the water at the rate of about six knots.  But the frigate was coming up at the rate of eight knots, making it certain that she would get us under her guns in an hour or two at most, unless some great advantage was obtained over her by means of the complicated navigation, and shallow water.

When at Bordeaux, the previous year, I had purchased a chart of the French coast, with a book containing directions similar to those which are to be found in our own “Coasting Pilot.”  As a matter of course, I had them both with me, and I found them of great service on this occasion.  The text described the islands we were near as being separated by narrow channels of deep water, in which the danger was principally owing to sunken rocks.  It was these rocks that had induced the fishermen to pronounce the passages impracticable; and my coasting directions cautioned all navigators to be wary in approaching them.  The Dawn, however, was in precisely the situation which might render these rocks of the last service to her; and, preferring shipwreck to seeing my vessel in either English or French hands, again, I determined to trust to the very dangers of the navigation as my safeguard.  I might go clear of the bottom, but it was certain, if I kept outside, I could not escape from the frigate.  An accidental occurrence, in connection with the boat, favoured us, and I was not slow to profit by the advantage it offered.  Finding it impossible to come up with the ship by keeping in her wake, Monsieur Le Gros had taken a short cut, in the boat, between some islets that we were obliged to round, and he actually came out ahead of us.  Instead of endeavouring to close with the ship, however, he led into an excessively narrow passage, making furious gestures for us to follow.  This was at the instant when the frigate fired her first gun at us, the shot of which just fell a very little short.  Did we pass the channel in which Monsieur Le Gros had carried the boat, we should fall to leeward of the whole group of islands, —­or islets, would be the better word,—­when all would literally depend on our heels.  There was but a moment in which to decide; in another minute, the ship would be past the opening, which could only be regained by tacking, if it could be regained at all.  I gave the order to luff.