"She has just now made all sail, sir."
"Yes, there's no doubt of it; I will go down to his lordship—keep her as she goes."
Mr Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. of the circumstance. Not only Lord B., but most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soon afterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B., who spoke to them through the door of the cabin.
But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter, and increased her distance.
"If we were to wear round now, my lord," observed Mr Stewart, "she is just abreast of us and in shore, we could prevent her escape."
"Round with her, Mr Stewart," said Lord B.; "we must do our duty, and protect the laws."
"That will not be fair, papa," said Cecilia Ossulton; "we have no quarrel with the smugglers: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bring us beautiful things."
"Miss Ossulton," observed her aunt, "it is not proper for you to offer an opinion."
The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had little chance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing—to capture, another.
"Let us give her a gun," said Lord B., "that will frighten her; and he dare not cross our hawse."