midnight
This was a heavy press of canvas to pile upon the ship , with the wind where it was , and so heavy a sea running , but the Captain evidently considered -- as , indeed , did we all -- that the circumstances justified a certain measure of recklessness , for we had all observed that the _ Masulipatam _ was , at all events when going free , almost as fast a ship as the _ Belle Marie _ ; and haste was necessary if we would overtake her before she reached her port . By four bells in the first watch the wind had moderated sufficiently to permit of our setting all three royals , as well as the weather topgallant studdingsails ; and half-an-hour later we sighted the craft of which we were in pursuit about four points on our starboard-bow . She was then about twelve miles distant , and only just distinguishable with the aid of our best night glasses ; and the fact that we were still so far astern of her seemed to render it exceedingly doubtful whether she would not , after all , make good her escape . The fear that she would do so was still further strengthened when at midnight we made Cape Frehel light , with the chase still leading by a full eight miles ; the only chance in our favour being that , as the bearing of the light proved , the Indiaman was some three miles to windward of her course , and would have to bear away for it , while we were heading for Saint Malo as straight as we could go . As the night passed on , however , our hopes rose somewhat , for the weather cleared , while the wind softened down ; and with the softening of the wind it became apparent that we were gaining more rapidly . As the time wore on so did the chase grow increasingly exciting , our hopes every moment strengthening , until at length , by three bells in the middle watch , they had merged into a conviction that nothing short of a miracle could save the Indiaman from recapture . Some such conviction must also have forced itself upon the mind of the officer in charge of her , for just after four bells had been struck we saw him suddenly take in his studdingsails and haul his wind , having apparently decided that he must inevitably be taken if he persisted in his endeavour to get into Saint Malo .