she was lying to.

"Mr Crowfoot what have you been after? I have a great mind to report you,
sir."

"We could not help it, sir," sung out Crowfoot in a most dolorous tone, in
answer to the captain of the frigate; 'we have been nearly taken, sir, by
a privateer, sir--an immense vessel, sir, that sails, like a witch, sir."

"Keep close in my wake then, sir," rejoined the captain, in a gruff tone,
and immediately the Rayo bore up.

Next morning we were all carrying as much sail as we could crowd. By this
time we had gotten our jury--fore--topmast up, and the Rayo, having kept
astern in the night, was now under topsails, and top--gallant sails, with
the wet canvass at the head of the sails, showing that the reefs had been
freshly shaken out--rolling wedge like on the swell, and rapidly shooting
a--head, to resume her station. As she passed us, and let fall her
foresail, she made the signal to make more sail, her object being to get
through the Caicos Passage, into which we were now entering, before n
ightfall. It was eleven o'clock in the forenoon. A fine clear breezy day,
fresh and pleasant, sometimes cloudy overhead, but always breaking away
again, with a bit of a sneezer, and a small shower. As the sun rose there
were indications of squalls in the north--eastern quarter, and about noon
one of them was whitening to windward. So "hands by the topgallant
clew--lines" was the word, and we were all standing by to shorten sail,
when the Commodore came to the wind as sharp and suddenly as if he had
anchored; but on a second look, I saw his sheets were let fly, haulyards
let go, and apparently all was confusion on board of her. I ran to the
side and looked over. The long hearing dark blue swell had changed into a