"It may be safer for you not to go alone, my dear friend," observed the Don, with a bland smile. "There are villains of all sorts about in the streets at night, and you know that you English are not held in much love by those slaving gentry to whose business you are attempting to put a stop. They would not scruple to stick a knife into your back if they found you walking alone." "I am much obliged to you for the warning, and coming from you, who must be well acquainted with the proceedings of the rascals, it is of value; but I am not afraid of them," answered Jack, laughing. "We are prepared for all the tricks they may attempt to play us. Good night, Don Matteo." Donna Isabella, the Don's buxom wife, joined her solicitations to those of her husband and their fair daughters, who gathered round Jack, resolved to prevent him from leaving, but he was as determined as they were, and, making his best bow, hurried out of the room. He found his officers, as had been agreed on, a short distance from the house, and, keeping their swords ready for defence should they be attacked, an event they were aware not at all unlikely to happen, they made their way down to the landing-place as quickly as possible. Bevan and the midshipmen had already reached the boat, and, jumping in, they pulled rapidly towards the _Supplejack_. As they did so, they caught sight of a vessel gliding across the harbour, which, having passed the brig, was soon lost to sight. "She has slipped by us, sir, and is standing out to sea," exclaimed Needham, as soon as they stepped on board. "She is the _Venus_, sir, I know, for I was not far from her in the dinghy as she began to haul out from the quay. I went away soon after dark to watch her, as I felt sure we were right in thinking that she was about to put to sea." The breeze was very light, and the schooner could still be discerned from the deck of the _Supplejack_. Jack waited till she had disappeared behind the rocks of the Moro: the anchor was then hove up, and sail being made on the brig, she slowly glided out of the harbour, the magnificent lighthouse on the west enabling her without difficulty to find her way through the narrow channel. The schooner could be dimly seen ahead, but it was doubtful whether she herself was aware that she was followed. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. CHASE OF THE VENUS--A TORNADO--JACK AGAIN SIGHTS HER--CAPTURES HER AND TWO MORE--SAILS FOR PORT ROYAL--A SUSPICIOUS STRANGER--A PRIZE DESPATCHED FOR ASSISTANCE--ATTACKED--HARD PRESSED--PRISONERS BREAK LOOSE--THE CORVETTE APPEARS IN THE NICK OF TIME--FALL IN WITH THE FRIGATE--ADAIR'S ACCOUNT OF THE WAY THE SLAVERS HAD DONE THEM.