“Make all sail,” said Captain Deering to Mr. Johnson. The mate’s deep tones rang through the schooner; blocks creaked, ropes were manned, and seamen swarmed into the rigging. Then like a great, white ghost the Defence fell into the breeze and swept out of the harbor, leaving the pursuing boats to return to the frigate with the news of the prisoners’ escape. As Tom leaned on the quarter-rail and gazed eagerly back over the schooner’s white track he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Come, lad, forgive me,” said his Uncle Dick; “you see for yourself, don’t you, that it was useless to go nearer the frigate?” Tom gripped his uncle’s hand. “Yes,” he said, “you were right, of course, uncle. But it’s pretty hard to have been so near, and, and----” He could not finish the sentence, but turned away abruptly, and for many a day Tom had a heavy heart. CHAPTER XV HOW TOM DEERING FOUGHT HIS FIRST FIGHT UPON THE SEA WHEN the schooner was well beyond pursuit she dropped in close to shore, and word was sent to the men who guarded the horses to take them back to Marion’s camp. Then the vessel got under way once more; it was no time to loiter, as the frigates might make sail after them at any time. Tom, sick at heart at his failure to rescue his father, had decided to stick to the Defence until he saw Laura at least in safety somewhere; and several others of his command were delighted at the prospects of a cruise upon deep water. Next morning Tom approached his uncle upon the subject of Laura. “I’ve been running out of the port of Baltimore,” said Captain Deering, “for a long time, and we have some folks at Baltimore. You don’t remember your Uncle Ben’s family, I suppose? I’ve been to see them once or twice during the last year, and a fine, healthy lot of boys and girls they are, and Ben and his wife are as hearty as can be. Suppose I run up the Chesapeake, and have Laura stop with them for awhile?” “An excellent idea,” said Tom, much relieved. “And I’m glad you thought of it, for Laura’s safety has been troubling me a great deal.” The run along the coast up to the Chesapeake was enlivened by a number of chases by British vessels; there was one, a sloop-of-war, of about the same tonnage as the Defence and carrying not many more guns, which Captain Deering ran from with great regret. “I’d like to train Long Tom on her,” said the old sea-dog, patting the long pivot gun, amidships; “but as I’ve got Laura on board, I suppose I must show the sloop a clean pair of heels.” When they reached Baltimore, after a narrow escape from a brig and two fleet schooners which were cruising up and down at the mouth of the bay, Tom and the captain saw Laura safely housed with Uncle Ben, who was delighted to receive her; then, after many “good-byes” they once more sought the Defence.