"Why, sir, do ye see a stern chase is a long chase, as every one knows, but a flaw of wind or a bit of a calm, or somewhat of that sort, may throw her into our power, so that from all I've seen, and you know that's not a little, Mr Hurry, I says never give up a-following an enemy as long as you can keep eyes on her. When once you loses sight of her, why, then its all guess-work, and a chance that you ever claps eyes on her again." I ever after remembered Grampus's observations both when chasing and being chased, and frequently experienced their practical wisdom. Everything was done to increase the speed of the ships, the sails were drenched with water, so that not a whistle full could escape through them, and the hammocks were slung, and shot placed in them, but all was apparently at first to little purpose. "The rogues are laughing at us," said Delisle, as he and I paced the deck together, "I wish we could get a calm, and have a chance of boarding them with the boats. They would give us some warm work though, I suspect." "I should hope so," said I. "I have always preferred the excitement of downright fighting to the sort of work we have lately had off Providence." "I should think so, indeed!" said he. "I have often thought that if I were made a prisoner, I should die of ennui. How people can exist shut up within the walls of a dungeon has always puzzled me." We afterwards had good reason to remember this conversation, and he, poor fellow, sadly to his cost. While we had been speaking, dark clouds had been gathering in the north-west. They now began to form a thick and heavy bank, which rose gradually higher and higher in the sky. There was little doubt that they indicated the approach of a strong wind, but whether or not it would aid us in capturing the chase was a question. "We shall have something to try our sticks soon, Mr Willis," said the captain to the first lieutenant; "but we must carry on as long as they will stand, rather than let that fellow escape. So fast a craft as he is will commit no little damage to our trade, if allowed to continue at large." "No fear, sir. It is not likely that a rascally rebel will be able ultimately to escape from three of his Majesty's ships," answered Mr Willis, who held the Americans in supreme contempt. "I do not know that," observed the captain, who had a very different feeling for the foe. "They have shown in many ways that they are not to be despised, and several of their vessels have contrived to give us the go-by."