"There is a breeze coming," Joe said, "and it is from the south, so we shall get it long before they do. We shall see no more of them."
As soon as the breeze reached them, the sails were braced aft; and the brig kept as close to the wind as she would sail, lying almost directly off from the land.
"I want them to think that we are frightened," Captain Lockett said, in answer to a question from Bob as to the course, "and that we have decided to get away from their neighbourhood, altogether. I expect they are only going as far as Alicante. We will run on till we are well out of sight, then hold on for the rest of the day east and, in the night, head for land again, beyond Alicante. It would never do to risk those fellows coming upon us, again, when we are quietly at anchor. We might not be so lucky, next time."
An hour later the lookout in the top hailed the deck, and said that there was a sail in sight.
"What does she look like, Halkett?" Joe Lockett shouted, for the captain was below.
"As far as I can make out she is a two master--I should say, a brig."
"How is she heading?"
"About northeast, sir. I should say, if we both hold on our courses, she will pass ahead of us."
The captain was now on deck, and he and the first mate went up to the top.
"Starboard your helm a bit!" the captain shouted, after examining the distant sail through his telescope. "Keep her about east."