As they lay without steerage way, they had swung partly
round, and he saw that they were a brig and a schooner. The former he
had no doubt, from her lofty masts and general appearance, was the
same the Madras had passed six days before. As the passengers came up,
they were full of curiosity as to the vessels.
"Of course, we know no more actually than you do yourselves," the
captain said, as some of them gathered round and questioned him, "but
I may as well tell you, frankly, that we have very little doubt about
their being two French privateers. We passed them during the gale, and
had some hopes that we should not see them again; but, in the light
breeze we have been having during the last few days, they have made up
lost ground, and I am afraid we shall have to fight them."
Exclamations of alarm broke from some of the ladies who heard his
words.
"You need not be alarmed, ladies," he went on. "We carry twelve guns,
you know, and I expect that all of them are of heavier metal than
theirs. The Madras is a strongly-built ship, and will stand a good
deal more hammering than those light craft will, so that I have no
doubt we shall give a good account of ourselves."
After breakfast, the hatches were opened and the gun cases belonging
to the passengers brought on deck.
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