A word must be added concerning an acquaintance-Monsieur Gallois.  Just as the Black Prince’s masts went, I saw him, a long way to windward, stretching in towards the coast, and carrying sail as hard as his lugger would bear.  The corvette was still close at his heels; and Marble soon after drew my attention towards him, to observe the smoke that was rising above the sloop-of-war.  The distance was so great, and the guns so light, that we heard no reports; but the smoke continued to rise until both vessels went out of sight, in the south-western board.  I subsequently learned that the lugger escaped, after all.  She was very hard pressed, and would have been captured, had not the English ship carried away her main-top-gallant-mast, in her eagerness to get alongside.  To that accident, alone, did M. Gallois owe his escape.  I trust he and M. le Gros had a happy meeting.

Chapter XIX.

  “The sea wax’d calm, and we discovered
  Two ships from far making amain to us,
  Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this: 
  But on they came,—­O, let me say no more! 
  Gather the sequel by that went before.”

  Comedy of Errors.

It was high time for the Dawn to be doing.  Of all the ships to leeward, the Speedy, the vessel we had most reason to apprehend, was in the best condition to do us harm.  It was true that, just then, we might outsail her, but a man-of-war’s crew would soon restore the balance of power, if it did not make it preponderate against us.  I called to my mate, and we went aft to consult.

“It will not do for us to remain any longer here, Moses,” I began; “the English are masters of the day, and the Speedy’s officers having recognised us, beyond all doubt, she will be on our heels the moment she can.”

“I rather think, Miles, her travelling, for some hours to come, is over.  There she is, however, and she has our crew on board her, and it would be a good thing to get some of them, if possible.  If a body had a boat, now, I might go down with a flag of truce, and see what tarms could be made.”

I laughed at this conceit, telling Marble he would be wise to remain where he was.  I would give the Speedy four hours to get herself in tolerable sailing trim again, supposing her bent on pursuit.  If in no immediate hurry, it might occupy her four-and-twenty hours.

“I think she may be disposed to follow the other French frigate, which is clearly making her way towards Brest,” I added, “in which case we have nothing to fear.  By George! there goes a gun, and here comes a shot in our direction—­you can see it, Moses, skipping along the water, almost in a line between us and the frigate.—­Ay, here it comes!”

All this was literally true.  The Speedy lay with her bows towards us, and she had suddenly fired the shot to which I alluded, and which now came bounding from wave to wave, until it struck precisely in a line with the ship, about a hundred yards distant.