Mr McRitchie had been listening, and seemed much affected at what had been said.  The master spoke so confidently of Mr Brand's death, and of the others, that we began ourselves to realise the melancholy fact. What, however, was likely to be our own fate? we had several times asked ourselves.  What could we expect but to be instantly murdered?  We anxiously scanned the horizon on every side.  There was not a sign of a sail of any description.  The wind remained steady.  There was no prospect of a storm or a calm.  The stranger was coming up after us with fearful speed.  We were within range of her guns, but she did not fire-- so we concluded that she had none on board.  It was useless for us to attempt to do anything by fighting.  Jerry and I talked about it, but we gave it up as a hopeless case.  The stranger could quickly have settled the matter by running us down.