When James Playfair had reached the cross-trees, he saw distinctly, through an opening in the mist, a large Federal corvette in full pursuit of the _Dolphin_. After having carefully examined her, the Captain came down on deck again, and called to the first officer. "Mr. Mathew," said he, "what do you think of this ship?" "I think, Captain, that it is a Federal cruiser, which suspects our intentions." "There is no possible doubt of her nationality," said James Playfair. "Look!" At this moment the starry flag of the North United States appeared on the gaff-yards of the corvette, and the latter asserted her colours with a cannon-shot. "An invitation to show ours," said Mr. Mathew. "Well, let us show them; there is nothing to be ashamed of." "What's the good?" replied James Playfair. "Our flag will hardly protect us, and it will not hinder those people from paying us a visit. No; let us go ahead." "And go quickly," replied Mr. Mathew, "for, if my eyes do not deceive me, I have already seen that corvette lying off Liverpool, where she went to watch the ships in building: my name is not Mathew, if that is not the _Iroquois_ on her taffrail." "And is she fast?" "One of the fastest vessels of the Federal marine." "What guns does she carry?" "Eight." "Pooh!" "Oh, don't shrug your shoulders, Captain," said Mr. Mathew, in a serious tone; "two out of those eight guns are rifled, one is a sixty-pounder on the forecastle, and the other a hundred-pounder on deck." "Upon my soul!" exclaimed James Playfair, "they are Parrott's, and will carry three miles." "Yes, and farther than that, Captain." "Ah, well! Mr. Mathew, let their guns be sixty or only four-pounders, and let them carry three miles or five hundred yards, it is all the same if we can go fast enough to avoid their shot. We will show this _Iroquois_ how a ship can go when she is built on purpose to go. Have the fires drawn forward, Mr. Mathew." The first officer gave the Captain's orders to the engineer, and soon volumes of black smoke curled from the steamer's chimneys. This proceeding did not seem to please the corvette, for she made the _Dolphin_ the signal to lie to, but James Playfair paid no attention to this warning, and did not change his ship's course. "Now," said he, "we shall see what the _Iroquois_ will do; here is a fine opportunity for her to try her guns. Go ahead full speed!" "Good!" exclaimed Mr. Mathew; "she will not be long in saluting us." Returning to the poop, the Captain saw Miss Halliburtt sitting quietly near the bulwarks. "Miss Jenny," said he, "we shall probably be chased by that corvette you see to windward, and as she will speak to us with shot, I beg to offer you my arm to take you to your cabin again." "Thank you, very much, Mr. Playfair," replied the young girl, looking at him, "but I am not afraid of cannon-shots." "However, miss, in spite of the distance, there may be some danger."