As we were still in British waters, skirting the shore of the Bahamas, I determined not to change my course, but kept steadily on, always within a mile of the shore.

On the man-of-war firing a shot across our bows as a signal for us to heave to, I hoisted the English colours and anchored.

An American officer came on board, who, seeing unmistakable proofs of the occupation we were engaged in, seemed very much inclined to make a prize of us; but on my informing him that I claimed exemption from capture on the ground of the vessel being in British waters, he, after due consideration, sulkily wished me good morning and went back to his ship.

She continued to watch us till the middle of the night, when I imagine something else attracted her attention, and she steamed away.

We, taking advantage of her temporary absence, weighed our anchor and were soon far out at sea.
At the end of three days we had run into a position about sixty miles from Wilmington without any incident happening worth mentioning.