Mateo, taking a glass, was soon sweeping the horizon from his lofty perch, and in a few moments he sung out —
“There she is, blast her! just where she has always managed to be yet, dead to windward! and ahead!”
“How is she heading?” asked Willis.
“To the nor’ard, sir; and about fifteen miles off.”
“Very well, Mateo, we will try to get to the westward of her before she makes much more northing, and if I can show her the Maraposa’s stern, then we will get in before she can overhaul us.”
But Willis, this time underrated the speed of the vessel in sight, which was a new sloop, and one of the fastest square-rigged vessels that ever carried a sail; and long before he got on a line with her, she had lessened the distance between them to seven or eight miles, and, having seen the schooner, was now crowding on more duck, and heading a little to the eastward; she would, in less than an hour more, be right on board the slaver.
This was an arrangement that did not suit Willis at all, but there was nothing for it but to try his heels. And hoping they would stand him in as good stead now as they had on many a former occasion, he put the Maraposa’s helm a-port and ran off before the wind to the northward.
Square-sail, studding-sails, ring-tail and water-sails were all set and full; every place an inch of canvas could be put there was one, and the schooner rushed through the water like a mad creature, heaving high the waves, until they ran over her bows and deck in a perfect cataract. But all would not do! Steadily astern of them came on the sloop-of-war, with her lofty sails piled upon one another, until she looked like a mountain, moving in the schooner’s wake. Every moment she gained upon the slaver.
In four hours, so rapidly had the sloop come up, she was within gun-shot of the Maraposa, whose doom seemed sealed, as a shot from the sloop’s bow gun fell into the water, just ahead of her, showing she was within range, and also as a signal to the slaver to surrender.
But Willis had no such intention; and in answer to the shot ran up to his main-gaff the flaunting ensign of Spain.