But it soon became evident that the heavy barque was no match for the schooner, which crowded sail and bore down at a rate that bade fair to overhaul them in a few hours.

The chase continued till evening, when suddenly the look-out at the mast-head shouted, "Land, ho!" "Where away ?" cried the captain.
"Right ahead," sang out the man.
"I'll run her ashore sooner than be taken," muttered the captain, with an angry scowl at the schooner, which was now almost within range on the weather quarter, with the dreaded black flag flying at her peak.

In a few minutes breakers were descried ahead.
"D'ye see anything like a passage ?" shouted the captain.
"Yes, sir; two points on the weather bow." At this moment a white cloud burst from the schooner's bow, and a shot, evidently from a heavy gun, came ricochetting over the sea.

It was well aimed, for it cut right through the barque's main-mast, just below the yard, and brought the main-top-mast, with all the yards, sails, and gearing above it, down upon the deck.

The weight of the wreck, also, carried away the fore-top-mast, and, in a single instant, the _Firefly_ was completely disabled.
"Lower away the boats," cried the captain; "look alive, now; we'll give them the slip yet.