The fleet was about half-way across the broad bay of Gonaves, formed by two headlands which stretch out on the western side of Hispaniola, when two sail were seen standing out from the north-eastern corner. They were large ships, but whether friends or foes it was difficult to determine. Soon after they were discovered they spread more canvas. This circumstance was suspicious; signals were made by the _Champion_ and some of the nearer ships, and she hauling her wind stood back towards the strangers. They, however, pressed on as before. Mr Foley and Gerald were now wishing that they were on board. "If those are either French or Spaniards, the _Champion_ will have a brush with them, sir; big as they are, she'll beat them off too," exclaimed Gerald. "I wish we could go and help her. What do you say, Captain Massey?" "That, with our diminished crew, we could be of no real assistance; besides which, it is our duty to get into harbour as quickly as possible," answered Owen. "I am sure Lieutenant Foley will agree with me." "There is no doubt about it," said the lieutenant, who would have been very unwilling, on Ellen's account, to run the ship into danger, even had he not seen the folly of so doing. The _Champion_ having placed herself between the strangers and the fleet, again kept away. She apparently was satisfied that they were enemies, and too large to attack with any hope of success. "Captain Olding is doing his duty, as he always does," observed Norman Foley to Owen; "in spite of the great disparity of force, he will do his best to defend the convoy. See, he is signalling; what does he say, captain?" Owen examined the signal-book. "`Fleet to make all sail and steer for Jamaica'--that is what we are doing, though, and few of the vessels can carry more canvas than at present," he answered. Some, however, were seen setting royals and studding-sails. Every ship in the fleet pressed forward over the calm blue waters with all the sail she could carry. The sight was a beautiful one, as the canvas shone in the rays of the bright sun darting from a cloudless sky and Ellen likened them to swans of snowy plumage gliding over some inland lake. She felt less anxiety than did either Mr Foley or Owen, who saw more clearly the danger to which the _Champion_ was exposed. Already the guns of the enemy were heard as they opened on their small antagonist, while she returned them with her stern-chasers. "By the way the enemy are firing, their aim is to wing the _Champion_, and she'll then, they hope, become an easy prey," said the lieutenant to Owen. "They may be mistaken. Captain Olding is not the man to strike while he has a stick standing."