guarda-costa

That's how we come to have delayed until this Spanish fleet is fetched round from La Guayra by a guarda-costa; and if ye hadn't lost La Foudre, and so reduced our fleet from three ships to two, we should even now be able to fight our way through with a reasonable hope of succeeding.

Captain Blood Rafael Sabatini 1912

"You are thankful he did not sight a guarda-costa."

Lady Good-for-Nothing Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

That wasn't the end of his luck, either; for the captain of the guarda-costa turned out to be a blackguard that two years ago took a British captain prisoner and cut off his ears, which accounts for his fighting so hard.

Lady Good-for-Nothing Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

She had put about and run back in search of him, and her news was of a Spanish guarda-costa making down towards

Lady Good-for-Nothing Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

He ran past the guarda-costa, drawing her fire, but no great harm done; shot up under the sterns of the two prizes, that were lying not two hundred yards apart; and raked 'em with half-a-broadside apiece -- no time, you see, to reload between.

Lady Good-for-Nothing Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

So far, however, the breeze remained light, and while we were gliding through the water at the rate of something like five knots, with scarcely a ripple under our bows to indicate the fact, the guarda-costa appeared to have little beyond bare steerage-way.

Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Harry Collingwood 1886

After the setting of the moon we had lost sight of the guarda-costa until dawn once more betrayed her whereabouts.

Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Harry Collingwood 1886

We were scarcely a mile from the guarda-costa when we saw her canvas drooping in heavy festoons from her long tapering yards, and by the time that we had increased our distance to a couple of miles her anchor was a-trip, and she was sweeping round on her way out after us.

Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Harry Collingwood 1886

So intense was this darkness that we lost sight of the guarda-costa, the land, and in fact everything save the two or three riding-lights which the more prudent of the skippers had chosen to display on board their craft in the roadstead.

Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Harry Collingwood 1886

Bob, however, who was evidently burning to distinguish himself, seemed to regard this as a favourable opportunity for so doing, and promptly squared away, steering a course which would enable him to intercept the guarda-costa; we following steadily in his wake to witness the fun.

Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Harry Collingwood 1886