At about twenty fathoms from the Dolphin the shot, the speed of which had sensibly lessened, skimmed over the surface of the waves, marking its passage by a series of waterjets; then, with another burst, it rebounded to a certain height, passed over the Dolphin, grazing the mizzen-yards on the starboard side, fell at thirty fathoms beyond and was buried in the waves.
"By Jove!" exclaimed James Playfair, "we must get along; another slap like that is not to be waited for."
"Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Mathew, "they will take some time to reload such pieces."
"Upon my honor, it is an interesting sight," said Crockston, who, with arms crossed, stood perfectly at his ease looking at the scene, "and to say they are friends who send such brandy-balls!"
"Ah! that's you," cried James Playfair, scanning the American from head to foot.
"It is me, captain," replied the American undisturbed. "I have come to see how these brave Federals fire; not badly, in truth, not badly."
The captain was going to answer Crockston sharply, but at this moment a second shot struck the sea on the starboard side.
"Good," cried James Playfair, "we have already gained two cables on this Iroquois. Your friends sail like a buoy; do you hear, Master Crockston?"
"I will not say they don't," replied the American, "and for the first time in my life it pleases me."
A third shot fell still farther astern, and in less than ten minutes the Dolphin was out of range of the corvette's guns.
"So much for patent-logs, Mr. Mathew," said James Playfair; "thanks to those shot we know how to rate our speed. Now have the fires lowered; it is not worth while to waste our coal uselessly."
"It is a good ship that you command," said Miss Halliburtt to the young captain.
"Yes, Miss Jenny, my good Dolphin, makes her seventeen knots, and before the day is over, we shall have lost sight of that corvette."
James Playfair did not exaggerate the sailing qualities of his ship, and the sun had not set before the masts of the American ship had disappeared below the horizon.
