“Well,” said Jack to himself, “it’s up to me to catch him, and I won’t come back till I do.”
Lord Hastings had told him that the Sylph would remain where she was until he returned.
Under Jack’s orders the launch was leaping ahead at full speed, and after an hour it became apparent that the pursuers were gaining slightly.
“At this rate,” said Jack to himself, “we won’t overhaul him before daylight. But we shall keep after him as fast as we can.”
And keep after him they did; but their efforts to catch the traitor were doomed to disappointment, the two launches were so nearly matched.
The night now grew blacker, as it always does just before dawn, and now the headlight on the pursuing launch, besides showing Jack the escaping fugitive, also showed him the outline of the coast less than half a mile ahead of the fugitive.
With the first sight of the coast Jack uttered an exclamation of dismay, although he did not slacken the speed of the launch, which continued to creep closer and closer to the fugitive.
As the first, faint streak of dawn appeared in the sky, Hardy ran his boat close to shore and, standing erect, jumped headlong into the water. A moment later and he reappeared and struck out for land.
Now that his quarry was safe ashore, Jack approached more cautiously, for he was not minded to run his little craft upon a rock. But when the pursuers were finally able to land Hardy had disappeared in the distance.
Jack turned to his men.