“The fog continued very thick till past noon, and then suddenly lifted, and they saw seven or eight sail in sight, one of which was the _Lucca_ on their port bow, and about four miles off. She was running, as usual, at a good pace, and the sea being quiet, was making all thirteen knots. The _Gloire de Dijon_ increased speed, and drew up to within a mile and a half by three in the afternoon. The _Lucca_ then bore due east, and they were in her wake. The wind was west, with a little southerly, and just ahead of the _Lucca_ was a large square-rigged ship, with all sail set, but making very little way on account of the trifling breeze. “An extraordinary thing now happened. The _Lucca_ was observed by the captain of the yacht to be making straight for the sailing ship ahead, and had now got so close that a collision appeared inevitable. He called to Mr Theodore, who came up from below. The _Lucca_ ran dead at the sailing ship, though she was making thirteen knots to the other’s four, and the slightest turn of her wheel would have carried her free. On account of the direction of the wind, the ship was sailing almost right before it, and the steamer appeared to be aiming at her stern. “On the yacht they could see the crew of the sailing ship making frantic signs over the quarter to the steamer, but not the slightest notice was taken. The captain of the sailing ship had relied upon the steamer giving way, as is usual, and had allowed her to come so close that, it seems, he lost his head. Seeing this, the mate sang out to put the helm a-starboard, and run straight before the wind. This was done, and only just in time, for the steamer actually grazed her quarter, and carried away their boom. Knowing that the captain of the _Lucca_ was an old sailor, and a steady, experienced man, they were astonished at this behaviour, especially as, without staying to inquire what damage had been done, she kept on her course at still greater speed. “The captain of the yacht now put on speed, being desirous of speaking the steamer; but after an hour or two it was evident that the _Lucca_ was drawing ahead, and had increased her lead by at least a mile. They could not understand this, as the yacht was notoriously faster, and it became evident that the engineer of the _Lucca_ must have got his safety-valve screwed-down. “Night, as every one knows, falls rapidly at this time of the year, and the darkness was increased by the fog, which now came on again. During the evening all their conversation was upon the _Lucca_. Surely she would not keep up her speed in such a fog as this? The yacht had slackened, and was doing, as before, about six knots.