Her mast may go in a squall, or one of the braces may part--but I don't see what else is to stop her." But the wind was light, and hardly strained the new rigging, while there was a stout running backstay set up with all care, and even the main halliard had been led far aft to serve as another.

She was meant to run while she might, and that silent and lonely ship, passing us on an endless voyage into the great westward ocean, was as strange and uncanny a sight as a seaman could meet in a long life.

Moreover, though she was in full war trim, she seemed to have some deck cargo piled amidships, which might be plunder.
So for an hour or more that chase went on.

Once or twice we were a full half-mile astern of her, and then gained with the chance of the breeze.

Once we might have thrown a line on board her, but had none to heave.