“A frigate, Captain Wilson, I’m sure of it,” said Mr Hawkins the chaplain, whose anxiety induced him to go to the mast-head.
“How is she steering?”
“The same way as we are.”
The Aurora was under all possible sail, and when the hands were piped to dinner, it was thought that they had neared the chase about two miles.
“This will be a long chase; a stern chase always is,” observed Martin to Gascoigne.
“Yes, I’m afraid so—but I’m more afraid of her escaping.”
“That’s not unlikely either,” replied the mate.
“You are one of Job’s Comforters, Martin,” replied Gascoigne.
“Then I’m not so often disappointed,” replied the mate. “There are two points to be ascertained; the first is, whether we shall come up with the vessel or lose her—the next is, if we do come up with her, whether she is the vessel we are looking for.”
“You seem very indifferent about it.”