It was now time for Ludlow to come to a speedy determination on his future course.  The breeze still held to the southward, but it was beginning to lessen, with every appearance that it would fail before nightfall.  The land lay a few leagues to the northward, and the whole horizon of the ocean, with the exception of the two French cruisers, was clear.  Descending to the quarter-deck, he approached the master, who was seated in a chair, while the surgeon dressed a severe hurt in one of his legs.  Shaking the sturdy veteran cordially by the hand, he expressed his acknowledgments for his support in a moment so trying.

“God bless you!  God bless you!  Captain Ludlow;” returned the old sailor, dashing his hand equivocally across his weatherbeaten brow.  “Battle is certainly the place to try both ship and friends, and Heaven be praised!  Queen Anne has not failed of either this day.  No man has forgotten his duty, so far as my eyes have witnessed; and this is saying no trifle, with half a crew and an equal enemy.  As for the ship, she never behaved better!  I had my misgivings, when I saw the new main-top-sail go, which it did, as all here know, like a bit of rent muslin between the fingers of a seamstress.  Run forward, Mr. Hopper, and tell the men in the fore rigging to take another drag on that swifter, and to be careful and bring the strain equal on all the shrouds.—­A lively youth, Captain Ludlow, and one who only wants a little reflection, with some more experience, and a small dash of modesty, together with the seamanship he will naturally get in time, to make a very tolerable officer.”

“The boy promises well; but I have come to ask thy advice, my old friend, concerning our next movements.  There is no doubt that the fellow who is coming down upon us is both a Frenchman and a frigate.”

“A man might as well doubt the nature of a fish-hawk, which is to pick up all the small fry, and to let the big ones go.  We might show him our canvas and try the open sea, but I fear that fore-mast is too weak, with three such holes in it, to bear the sail we should need!”

“What think you of the wind?” said Ludlow, affecting an indecision he did not feel, in order to soothe the feelings of his wounded companion.  “Should it hold, we might double Montauk, and return for the rest of our people; but should it fail, is there no danger that the frigate should tow within shot!—­We have no boats to escape her.”

“The soundings on this coast are as regular as the roof of an out-house,” said the master, after a moment of thought, “and it is my advice, if it is your pleasure to ask it, Captain Ludlow, that we shoal our water as much as possible, while the wind lasts.  Then, I think, we shall be safe from a very near visit from the big one:—­as for the corvette, I am of opinion, that, like a man who has eaten his dinner, she has no stomach for another slice.”