We kept watching the corvette.  She, of course, could carry sail on her main-mast, but it took some time to clear away the wreck of the fore-topmast, and to set up the fore-stay, which had been carried away. This it was necessary to do before sail could be set on the main-topmast.  All this work occupied some time, and enabled the schooner to get far ahead.  Night, too, was coming on.  The weather promised to be very thick.  The pirate's chance of escape was very considerable.  Our hearts sank within us as we saw the prospect of our prolonged captivity.  Proportionably the pirates were elated as they felt sure of escaping.  On we flew; the sails of the corvette grew darker and darker, till a thin small pyramid alone was seen rising against the sky in the far horizon.  Mr McRitchie, who had joined us on deck, heaved a deep sigh.  To him captivity was even more galling than to us.  Darkness came on, and the corvette was lost to sight.