Terence gathered from the talk of the sailors that they were bound for Brest, to which port she belonged.
The Frenchmen were congratulating themselves that their cruise was so nearly over, and that it had been so successful a one.

From time to time a sailor was sent up into the cross trees, and scanned the horizon to the north and west.

In the afternoon he reported that he could make out the upper sails of a large ship going south.

The captain went up to look at her.
"I think she is an English ship of war," he said, when he descended to the deck, "but she is a long way off.

With this light wind we could run away from her.