Christy was more troubled than he had been at any time before; and he realized that it was necessary to make some change in the course of the Leopard, though she had the enemy on each side of her.
"It don't look as well as it might," added the captain gloomily.
"The Dauphine is getting altogether too near us, and we are making the distance between us less every minute," added Christy.
"There comes another shot from the Belle. She means business, and Major Pierson is certainly directing things on board of her. We can't stand that any longer. But she wasted her powder that time, and we must do better than that. What do you intend to do, Christy?"
"I mean to come about, and take a course between the Belle and the Dauphine: that is the most hopeful thing I can think of," replied Christy, after another careful survey of the positions of the enemy.
"I think you are right."
"We will come about, then;" and Christy threw over the wheel.
"That will bring our gun where we can use it; and we shall have a better chance at the Belle than she has at us, for she is larger, and has a crowd of men on her main deck," added Captain Pecklar, as he went to the ladder.
"If you are not afraid of those shots, I am not," said Percy, coming into the pilot-house again; and he was evidently ashamed of himself when he saw a fellow younger than himself taking no notice of them.
"I don't pretend to like them, or that I am not afraid of them; but I shall do my duty in spite of them," replied Christy. "I should be ashamed to meet my father, if I ever see him again, if I gave up the fight, and allowed myself to be kept as a prisoner."