She will not trouble herself about us.

She would know well enough that she could not get within ten miles of us, before it got dark." This turned out to be the case, for the lookout from time to time reported that the distant sail was keeping on her course, and the slight feeling of hope that had been felt by Terence and Ryan faded away.

They were placed in the same watch, and were below when, as daylight broke, they heard sudden exclamations, tramping of feet overhead, and a moment later the watch was summoned on deck.
"I hope that they have had the same luck that we had, and have run into the arms of one of our cruisers," Terence whispered in Portuguese to Ryan, as they ran up on deck together.
As he reached the deck the boom of a cannon was heard, and at the same instant a ball passed through the mainsail.

Half a mile away was a British sloop of war.

She had evidently made out the lugger before the watch on board the latter had seen her.