I told the mate something of the treasure tale—enough for him to know that Murad was in pursuit of The Morning Star—and at whatever port it seemed safe for us to stop, MacWilliams brought aboard reports that there was a richly laden vessel bound for America that might be overhauled before we reached the next Atlantic harbor. Thus we continued steadily away from the Straits.
Once an encounter with a strange warship came near to upsetting our plans for capturing the Hawk. MacWilliams and Watson, being renegades, were afraid to meet the captain of any European warship, for fear that they might be recognized and treated as buccaneers. Knowing their minds, I watched the outcome of the chase with intense interest.
I happened to be the lookout for that day, and had reported a strange sail ahead.
MacWilliams climbed the mast to a place beside me and adjusted his telescope. Then he went down and approached Uruj, Murad's lieutenant.
"She is well to windward——I doubt if we can pass her!" the mate reported.
"Why should we try to pass her?" Uruj said insolently.
"'Twill go hard with us if we don't," said MacWilliams. "She is double our size—with double our crew and guns. Our only chance is to keep our course and try to weather the ship."
Uruj looked to the wizard for advice. The magician, being a rank coward, found by his book that MacWilliams told the truth. Uruj therefore agreed to MacWilliams's plan.
We could now see the ship over our lee bow, about three miles away. The sea was heavy, but the Hawk met the waves gallantly. We saw a thick white puff of smoke from the forecastle of our pursuer.