"If this breeze holds," said he, "we can run along under easy sail and be off the harbor before daylight tomorrow morning." His exultation was moderated by the sight of a large topsail schooner on our starboard quarter, dead to windward, steering towards us under a heavy press of sail, and coming up hand over hand.

We hoisted our square-sail and wet our other sails, but the schooner gained upon us rapidly.

Ere the darkness of night concealed us from her view, we became aware that the schooner in chase was a Spanish government vessel, termed a Guarda Costa, one of the very few armed vessels stationed on that coast to show that the blockade of the Patriot ports on the Spanish Main was not a mere paper blockade.
A hasty consultation between the captain and the mate was now held, to devise means of keeping out of the clutches of the Spaniard during the night.

They both agreed in the opinion that the Guarda Costa would keep on the course she was steering when last seen, with the expectation of soon overhauling us.

Therefore, the best mode of disappointing those expectations would be to change our course, run directly towards the shore, dowse every sail, and remain concealed by the darkness until morning.
The stratagem devised by the combined wisdom of the officers was carried into effect.