It will be better to strike the coast of Spain, and have to run along the shore round Cape Finisterre, than to risk missing land altogether." That night they kept regular watches.

The wind was very light now, and they were not going more than two knots an hour through the water.

Ryan was steering when morning broke.
"Wake up, Terence!" he exclaimed suddenly, "here is a ship within a mile or so of us.

As she is a lugger, I am afraid she is a French privateer." Terence sprang to his feet.

The light was still faint, but he felt sure that his companion was right, and that the vessel was a French privateer.
"We have put our foot in it now, and no mistake," Ryan said.