“If we cannot make it,” said Martella to the Captain, “we must jump over and swim.”
“We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water abounds with enemies.”
“None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not notice me.”
“Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan.”
The brief interval decided the question. It seemed that the sailboat might touch land before the pursuer could interpose to head them off. Martella decided to take his chances with the others.
The tug was now so near that Yozarro called:
“Stop or we’ll blow you out of the water!”
“Blow and be hanged!” called back Major Jack; “if you fire on an American citizen, your nuisance of a republic will be wiped off the earth.”
“You have a deserter with you; I demand his surrender.”