“Where away?” asked Morton.
“To the north-west,” was the reply.
His heart gave a bound; it was the quarter in which the frigate was likely to appear. He kept away a little towards her. The “Thisbe” showed her number. The “Osterley” signalised, “We have all safe on board. An enemy to the south-east.”
There was no time for further greeting. The frigate made all sail and stood on. The tables were now fairly turned. The Frenchman made her out, and going about, stood away to the southward.
“We shall have Captain Gerardin and his sentimental lieutenant among us again before long,” observed Captain Winslow, rubbing his hands.
The corvette showed that she had a remarkably fast pair of heels, and night coming on hid the pursuer, as distance had already hid the pursued, from the sight of those on board the “Osterley.” Sail was taken off the “Osterley,” and she was hove-to, that she might wait for the return of the frigate.
A very important question now arose as to what port they should steer for. The passengers very naturally begged that they might be carried to Bombay, but Morton conceived that they ought to return to Calcutta. However, that was a point Captain Calder could alone decide. Poor Captain Winslow, on his part, wanted to get back the command of his ship; but that of course, Morton had no power to bestow on him. All were eager for the morning, but never did a night appear to pass by more slowly. Dawn broke at last, and a sail was seen to the southward. She proved to be the “Thisbe”—the corvette had escaped.
“We’ll catch the fellow one of these days, though,” exclaimed Captain Calder. “And if he proves to be a pirate, and I believe he is very little better, we’ll hang him without compunction at his own yard-arm.”
His captain highly commended Morton for his conduct, and decided that the “Osterley” should return under his charge to Calcutta, where Admiral Rainier still was, that he might decide how she should be disposed of.
“She’s worth some thousand pounds to us Morton,” he observed. “It will help you to furnish house whenever you set up in that way ashore.”