Ben went to his gun, and Dick was ordered below to the magazine to bring up ammunition. Though much bigger than any of the other lads so employed, as he had been only a short time at sea, he had to perform the humble duty of a powder monkey. He would far rather have been engaged in working one of the guns. The _Wolf_ was carrying all the canvas which could be packed on her, studding-sails on either side and royals aloft. The chase also, under all sail, was still doing her utmost to keep ahead, but the _Wolf_, being the fastest ship of the two, gained rapidly on her. The men stood at their guns, waiting eagerly for the moment that the order to fire should be given, laughing, however, and cracking their usual jokes. The officers went their rounds, to see that all necessary preparations had been made. Dick was seated on his ammunition tub on the maindeck, when Lord Reginald and Voules, who had each a certain number of guns to look after, passed him. "I say, Oswald, that young smuggler looks pale enough now," observed Voules, in a voice sufficiently loud for Dick to hear him. "We must keep a sharp look-out on him, or he'll be running below to stow himself away in the hold." "Trust me for that! those ruffians ashore are the greatest cowards afloat," answered the young lord, as he passed on. Dick heard him. "I'll show him that I am no coward," he said to himself. Ben also, who was stationed at one of the guns it was Dick's duty to serve, heard the remark. "`Cowards!' does he call us?" he muttered. "He and Mr Toady will be the first to show the white feather, I've a notion." Shortly afterwards the sounds of two guns were heard. One shot, glancing along the _Wolf's_ bow, sent the splinters flying off it, while the other was seen to ricochet over the smooth water. The enemy had fired her stern chasers. The _Wolf_, without yawing, could not reply. She stood on, therefore, eager to come up with the chase. The latter was seen directly afterwards taking in her studdingsails and royals. The British crew cheered as they saw this. There was no longer any doubt that the enemy was ready to fight. The order was now given to take in all the studdingsails. The royals were next handed; the crew, who had left their quarters for the purpose, immediately hurrying back to their guns. Both frigates were still rapidly running through the water. Suddenly the chase put down her helm and luffed up on the starboard tack, intending to rake the _Wolf_, which was now coming up on her weather quarter. "Hard a-starboard!" shouted Captain Moubray, and the _Wolf_ was brought up on the opposite tack, thus avoiding the raking fire, and receiving the enemy's shot on the starboard side. "Well done!" cried the captain. "Now hard a-port!"