“That’ll give ’em more time to prepare for us, but it’s the best thing to do.”
Then followed a sharp signal to the engineer, and the speed was still further decreased.
“Mr Webster, was she damaged at all by that brush?”
“Just a dent, sir; but she’s all sound below.”
“Douse the lights again. We’ll keep close in on the port tack. Keep your eye on the Kent shore, and tell the watch to be on the lookout for the guardship.”
For some time the ship slipped along through the dark waters without another word being spoken.
“There’s the signal, sir,” sang out a voice, breaking in on the silence. A rocket mounted afar off.
“Ay, I see it. It’s as I feared. They’ve alarmed the guardship, and’ll be sending a boat to her. Suppose they catch us, madam, what yarn will you spin?”
“They must not catch us.”
“They may open fire.”