The company of marines was at once formed, and "Captain" Coe, as they called him, immediately commenced the performance of his new office, by taking his men through such a preparatory drill as the short remaining time of daylight would allow. It was his determination to make himself as popular as he could among those who were placed under his command, with the view of using his influence for such good purposes as might hereafter present themselves. He was eminently successful in his endeavours to obtain popularity, his men already entertaining great admiration of his courage and resolute demeanour. The _Sea-bird_ continued for some days to run a southerly course, impelled by a moderate breeze from the west. Her prow was then turned towards the south-east, it being the intention of Captain Marston to get into the track of vessels trading between the West Indies and the Spanish Main, and the different European ports. While on this course certain changes were made in the appearance of the brig. The white stripe along her bends, just below the guards, was covered with a strip of black canvas; like strips, on which were painted the words the _Falcon_, were placed on each of her bows, and on her stern, over the name the _Sea-bird_, and the carved image of one bird was substituted for that of another as her figure-head. Other alterations were made in her rigging and elsewhere, so that the vessel's appearance was almost entirely changed. STORY TWO, CHAPTER TEN. THE CHASE. The western breeze is fresh and free; Before its power the vessels fleet, And, bounding o'er the flashing waves, Like lovers haste to meet. _Isobel--A Ballad_. And sweep through the deep, While the stormy tempests blow; While the battle rages loud and long, And the stormy tempests blow. _Mariners of England_. By each gun a lighted brand, In a bold, determined hand. _Battle of the Baltic_. Day after day the wind continued to blow mildly from the west, and the brig still made regular but slow progress before it, on her south-eastwardly course. One morning, before sunrise, a strange sail was espied upon the larboard bow. It was during Mr Afton's watch that this discovery was made. The second-lieutenant pronounced the stranger to be a merchant ship. This fact, with the opinion of the officer of the watch, being communicated to the commander of the brig, who was still in his hammock, and whom we must now call Captain Vance, orders were given by him to crowd all sail on the _Falcon_, and to pursue the stranger ship. Hour after hour passed away, and still the pirate vessel continued to gain on the chase, which had in the meanwhile been discovered to be a large and heavily-laden ship.