The Vengeance was about four miles off the Port of Havre, the breeze blowing steadily out. Coming before the wind was a large chasse-mare, under all the sail she could carry, and from her fore-topmast waved a large red ensign; she was scarcely two miles from the Vengeance. Stretching across from the western side of the Seine’s mouth was the Etoile privateer, also under a cloud of canvas. She was scarcely a mile from the Ca-Ira, and it appeared to be her evident intention to cross her course. As yet, so absorbed were those on board the Vengeance regarding the chasse-mare, which carried the signal at the mast-head, so long wished for, that no one thought of looking seaward till their attention was attracted by the boom of a heavy gun in that direction. Turning round, with a startled look, Lieutenant Thornton beheld a frigate about three miles to leeward, covered from her trucks to her deck with a snow-white cloud of canvas. There was no mistaking her, it was the French frigate of thirty-two guns, the Virginie. “By heavens!” exclaimed Lieutenant Thornton, after a glance with his glass, “that is the same frigate we saw five days ago run into Havre.” “There is another lofty-rigged ship away in south-west, sir,” called out Midshipman Burdett from the top-gallant cross-trees, “I can make out her royal and top-gallant sails.” “Ha! by Jove!” said our hero, “if this should be the Onyx; and yet she would be no match whatever for this frigate. The situation is perilous,” continued our hero to Bill Saunders, who came to his side, knowing full well how deeply anxious his master must be, seeing the object he so ardently longed to behold coming towards him. “We must cross between that lugger and the chasse-mare, Bill. Get your men to the guns; I will take the helm and pass as close to her as I can. We will prevent this privateer lugger closing with her; and if the chasse-mare with the red flag hauls her wind she may stand along shore, having the advantage of the breeze, and thus escape, for the frigate will not look to her.” “Ay, ay, sir. As soon as that fellow comes in range of our long eighteen-pounder shall I give him a dose of round shot, and mayhap cripple him?” “Yes, cripple him, by all means, Bill; bring down some of his spars, and we may get out of this scrape yet. Now, Master Burdett, look to the men and see they do not want for ammunition, for the lugger approaching us is a formidable opponent in men and metal.”