But before we proceed to the investigation of the crime, or the infliction of punishment, we must turn our eyes to the great object which rose clearer and clearer every five minutes above the horizon. The privateer was at this time under topsails, and top-gallant-sails, jib, and foresail, running to the north-east, with a fine breeze and smooth water. "Leftenant," said the captain, "what you think of her?" "I think," said I, "that she is an extra Indiaman; and if you mean to speak her, you had better put your head towards her under an easy sail; by which means you will be so near by sunset, that if she runs from you, you will be able, with your superior sailing, to keep sight of her all night." "I guess you are not far wrong in that," said the captain. "I guess he is directly in the face of the truth," said the chief mate, who had just returned from the maintop, where he had spent the last quarter of an hour in the most intense and absorbed attention to the cut of the stranger's sails. "If e'er I saw wood and canvas put together before in the shape of a ship that there is one of John Bull's bellowing calves of the ocean, and not less than a forty-four gunner." "What say you to that, leftenant?" said the captain. "Oh, as to that," said the mate, "it isn't very likely that he's going to tell us the truth." "Because you would not have done it yourself in the same situation," said I. "Just so," said the mate. And, in fact, I must own that I had no particular wish to cruise for some months in this vessel, and go back for water at Tristan d'Acunha. I therefore did not use my very best optical skill when I gave my opinion; but as I saw the stranger was nearing us very fast, although we were steering the same way, I made my mind up that I should very soon be out of this vessel, and on my way to England, where all my happiness and prospects were centred. The chief mate took one more look--the captain followed his examples; they then looked at each other, and pronounced their cruise at an end. "We are done, sir," said the mate; "and all owing to that damned English renegade that you would enter on the books as one of the ship's company. But let's have him aft, and give him his discharge regularly." "First of all," said the captain, "suppose we try what is to be done with our heels. They used to be good, and I never saw the brass-bottomed sarpent that could come a-near us yet. Send the royal yards up--clear away the studding-sails--keep her with the wind just two points abaft the beam, that's her favourite position; and I think we may give the slip to that old-country devil in the course of the night." I said nothing, but looked very attentively to all that was doing. The vessel was well manned, certainly, and all sail was set upon her in a very expeditious manner. "Heave the log," said the captain. They did so; and she was going, by their measurement, nine and six. "What do you think your ship is doing?" said the captain to me.