She had chosen a berth sufficiently within the shallow water to be safe from the guns of the frigate, though scarcely within the river.

The latter the depth of the stream hardly permitted, though there was all the shelter that the season and weather required.

The Proserpine manifested no intention to give up her pursuit; for she, too, came off the outlet and brought up with one of her bowers about two miles to seaward of the lugger.

She seemed to have changed her mind as to the coasters, having let both proceed after a short detention, though, it falling calm, neither was enabled to get any material distance from her until the land-breeze should rise.

In these positions the belligerents prepared to pass the night, each party taking the customary precautions as to his ground tackle, and each clearing up the decks and going through the common routine of duty as regularly as if he lay in a friendly port..