“If he hold-on a minute longer, he will get more than he can bear, and away will go all his kites, like smoke from the muzzle of a gun!” muttered Trysail.  “Ah! there come down his studding-sails—­ha! settle away the mainsail—­in royal, and top-gallant sail, with top-sail on the cap!—­The rascals are nimble as pickpockets in a crowd!”

The honest master has sufficiently described the precautions taken on board of the brigantine.  Nothing was furled; but as every thing was hauled up, or lowered, the squall had little to waste its fury on.  The diminished surfaces of the sails protected the spars, while the canvas was saved by the aid of cordage.  After a few moments of pause, half-a-dozen men were seen busied in more effectually securing the few upper and lighter sails.

But though the boldness with which the ‘Skimmer of the Seas’ carried sail to the last, was justified by the result, still the effects of the increased wind and rising waves on the progress of the two vessels, grew more sensible.  While the little and low brigantine began to labor and roll, the Coquette rode the element with buoyancy, and consequently with less resistance from the water.  Twenty minutes, during which the force of the wind was but little lessened, brought the cruiser so near the chase, as to enable her crew to distinguish most of the smaller objects that were visible above her ridge-ropes.

“Blow winds, and crack your cheeks!” said Ludlow, in an under tone, the excitement of the chase growing with the hopes of success.  “I ask but one half-hour, and then shift at your pleasure!”

“Blow, good devil, and you shall have the cook!” muttered Trysail, quoting a very different author.  “Another glass will bring us within hail.”

“The squall is leaving us!” interrupted the captain.  “Pack on the ship, again, Mr. Luff, from her trucks to her ridge-ropes!”

The whistle of the boatswain was again heard at the hatchways, and the hoarse summons of ‘all hands make sail, ahoy!’ once more called the people to their stations.  The sails were set, with a rapidity which nearly equalled the speed with which they had been taken in; and the violence of the breeze was scarcely off the ship, before its complicated volumes of canvas were spread, to catch what remained.  On the other hand, the chase, even more hardy than the cruiser, did not wait for the end of the squall; but, profiting by the notice given by the latter, the ’Skimmer of the Seas’ began to sway his yards aloft, while the sea was still white with foam.

“The quick-sighted rogue knows we are done with it,” said Trysail; “and he is getting ready for his own turn.  We gain but little of him, notwithstanding our muster of hands.”