That was what saved the really beaten British tars from any more heavy shot, and the _Noank_ was all the while increasing her distance. The only remaining danger to her now was the mighty _Solway_, and her sails, full set, could be seen and studied by the glasses on the schooner. "She's the first big ship I ever saw under full sail," said Guert to Groot. "I've only seen 'em in port." "You'd be of little good on her till after you'd served awhile," said the Dutchman, in his own tongue. "It isn't even every British captain that can handle a seventy-four as she ought to be handled." Whoever was in charge of the _Solway_ now, she was sailing faster than the _Noank_, and things were looking badly. So said one of his old neighbors to Captain Lyme Avery, only to be answered by a chuckle. "Jest calc'late," he added, quite cheerfully. "A starn chase is always a long chase. They won't be gettin' into range for their best guns till about dark. Then I'll show ye. Vine, make a barrel raft! Sharp!" Up from the hold came quickly a dozen or so of empty barrels, and these were carpentered together with planks so as to make a skeleton deck. In the middle of this was rigged a spar like a mast, and the raft was ready. All the sailors believed they knew what was coming. It was an old, old, trick, as old as the hills, but it might be the thing to try in this case. On came the stately line-of-battle ship, as the shadows deepened. She was slowly gaining in spite of the _Noank_ having every inch of her canvas spread. She would soon be near enough to fly her bow chasers. If these were heavy enough, there would then be nothing left the American privateer but prompt surrender. The next half-hour was, therefore, a time of breathless anxiety. "It's almost dark enough, now," said Captain Avery, at last, with a cloudy face. "Over with the raft, Vine; I'm goin' to try somethin' new." Over the side it went and it floated buoyantly, with a large, lighted lantern swinging at the tip of its pretty tall mast. At the foot of that spar, however, had been securely fastened a barrel of powder, with a long line-fuse carried from it up several feet along the upright stick. "If that light fools him at all," said the captain, "it'll gain us half an hour and five miles. If it doesn't, why, then we're gone, that's all. Now, Coco, due nor'west! Keep her head well to the wind. We shall pass that seventy-four within two miles." It was a daring game to play, taking into account British night-glasses and heavy guns, to tack toward a line-of-battle ship in that manner. On the _Solway_, however, there had been a feeling of absolute certainty as to overtaking the schooner. She had been in plain view, they said, up to the moment when her crew so foolishly swung out a lantern. It was a mere glimmer, truly, but it would do to steer by. It was many minutes afterward that an idea suddenly flashed into the experienced mind of the British commander.