"If she keeps on her course, a quarter of an hour will do it, but she is sure to notice the guns.

The wind will take them down to her.
"Ah, there she goes." As he spoke, a puff of smoke darted out from the frigate's bow.

Her sails fluttered, and her head bore round, until she was on the same tack as the lugger.
The latter was now about equidistant from her two pursuers.

The cutter and the lugger were nearly abreast, but the former, being to windward, could edge down.

The frigate was three miles to leeward, but she was fully a mile ahead.
"There is no way out of it," the skipper said bitterly.