Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the glass.
“Yes, it must be her,” said he aloud, so as to be heard by the pirates; “she has been sent out by the admiral on purpose, full of his best men. What a pity we are short-handed!”
“There’s enough of us, sir,” observed the boatswain.
“Yes,” replied Cain, “if there was anything but hard blows to be got; but that is all, and I cannot spare more men. Ready about!” continued he, walking aft.
The Enterprise, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then about five miles distant, steering for the Avenger, who was on a wind. As soon as the Avenger tacked, the Enterprise took in her topmast studding-sail, and hauled her wind. This brought the Enterprise well on the weather-quarter of the Avenger, who now made all sail. The pirates, who had had quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulated by the presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now showed as much anxiety to avoid, as they usually did to seek, a combat.
At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there was no perceptible difference; for half an hour they both continued on a wind, and when Edward Templemore examined his sextant a second time, he could not perceive that he had gained upon the Avenger one cable’s length.
“We will keep away half a point,” said Edward to his second in command. “We can afford that, and still hold the weather-gage.”
The Enterprise was kept away, and increased her speed: they neared the Avenger more than a quarter of a mile.
“They are nearing us,” observed Francisco; “we must keep away a point.”
Away went the Avenger, and would have recovered her distance, but the Enterprise was again steered more off the wind.