“They are not trying, Miss Laura. That was just by way of being more peremptory. In ten minutes we’ll be beyond reach of their light, and then there’ll be another spell of safety, unless we are sunk. Hullo, here comes another.”
There was another sullen roar, and the gunner had determined on a closer call, for the ball touched the water not a hundred yards off, then ricocheted to the Essex coast.
“The next one will have us,” growled the Captain.
“Steamer’s lights ahead! Starboard bow!” hailed the lookout.
Eyes were taken off the following man-of-war, and strained into—the darkness ahead, out of which presently there stood two lights.
“She’s near us, Mr Webster, and thank your stars for a sound berth to-night for that. We’ll slip by on the port, and then get away under her bulk. Do you think they see her?”
“No, sir; but the steamer ’ll make the cruiser see her. She must be in a rare state. Ah! there goes a rocket.”
High into the black heavens ahead went a ball of fire, which presently curved over and burst in a shower of blue.
“Looks like a navy signal, sir?”
“Very like. If she is, we’re caught hard and fast.”