"She sails faster than we do, I acknowledge; but you over-estimate her speed," answered Owen. "I still expect that we shall keep well ahead of her till dark, and we may then alter our course and escape." "I tell you your hopes are vain; yonder ship is as fast a craft as any out of a French port--we haven't a chance of escaping her," replied Mr Carnegan. "You know her, then?" answered Owen. "I have seen her more than once--before the war broke out, of course-- and, from her size and the weight of her metal, if we attempt to fight her we shall be sent to the bottom," was the answer. "The captain intends to try and knock her spars away, and thus to enable us to escape," said Owen. "She is more likely to send our masts over the side than to suffer any harm our popguns can do her," observed the second mate. Captain Tracy, who had been watching the stranger for some time, now summoned them both and asked their opinion. They repeated what they had before said. "Owen, we can trust our crew?" he observed. "Even the sick men would be ready to fight--we can depend on all of them," said Owen. "Then we'll train two guns aft, and fight them as long as our own masts stand," exclaimed Captain Tracy. "Hoist our ensign, that there may be no mistake--though I own that I have now little doubt of that fellow being a Frenchman. We shall soon see--yes--there, up goes the white flag with the lilies of France; it won't be long before she is within range." "I think not, sir," observed the second mate, "and if you take my advice you will not attempt to fight--even if we do knock away a spar or two, with her crew of not less than a hundred and twenty men, I'll warrant she'll speedily repair her damages; and as she carries heavy metal, if I mistake not, her first broadside will send us to the bottom." The captain made no reply. "Gerald," he said, "take your sister down to the hold--Dan Connor and Tim will arrange a secure place for her, and I put her under your charge--remember, you're to remain with her, and not to return on deck till I send for you." Gerald looked very much disappointed, but he well knew that it would be vain to expostulate. He had fully expected to engage in the fight, or to "take part in the fun," as he called it. Norah had before this gone into the cabin, to which Gerald repaired, and with no very good grace delivered their father's orders. Without a murmur Norah prepared to obey them. The second mate and some of the men were engaged in dragging one of the guns aft. As she came on deck, Norah found her father standing near the companion-hatch. Embracing her, he kissed her brow and said, "Don't be alarmed, my child; we shall manage to escape the Frenchman, I hope, and come off without damage. Go into your nest, now, with Gerald, and I hope before long I shall have a good report to give you."