'Get the long gun ready, my lads! We will return her fire, Francisco, and hoist American colours; that will puzzle the frigate, at all events, and the night may do the rest.' The long gun of the _Avenger_ was ready. 'I would not fire the long gun,' observed Francisco; 'it will show our force, and will give no reason for our attempt to escape. Now, if we were to fire our broadside guns, the difference of report between them and the one of large calibre fired by the other schooner would induce them to think that we are an American vessel.' 'Very true,' replied Cain; 'and, as America is at peace with all the world, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold fast the long gun, there, and unship the starboard ports. See that the ensign blows out clear.' The _Avenger_ commenced firing an occasional gun from her broadside, the reports of which were hardly to be heard by those on board of the frigate; while the long gun of the _Enterprise_ reverberated along the water, and its loud resonance was swept by the wind to the frigate to leeward. Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in the wave, and darkness obscured the vessels from each other's sight, except with the assistance of the night-telescopes. 'What do you propose to do, Captain Cain?' said Francisco. 'I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run down to the frigate, as if for shelter; tell him that the other vessel is a pirate, and claim his protection. Leave me to escape afterwards; the moon will not rise till nearly one o'clock.' 'That will be a bold ruse indeed; but suppose you are once under her broadside, and she suspects you?' 'Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing for her and her broadside if the schooner was not here.' In an hour after dark the _Avenger_ was close to the frigate, having steered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually, as if she had few hands on board; and, keeping his men out of sight, Cain ran under the stern of the frigate. 'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?' '_Eliza_ of Baltimore, from Carthagena,' replied Cain, rounding to under the lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing: 'That vessel in chase is a pirate. Shall I send a boat on board?' 'No; keep company with us.' 'Ay, ay, sir,' replied Cain. 'Hands about ship!' now resounded with the boatswain's whistle on board of the frigate, and in a minute they were on the other tack. The _Avenger_ also tacked and kept close under the frigate's counter.