"Go about at once, Hawkins. You see we can see her topsails from the deck; and of course she can see ours. I don't suppose she has paid any attention to us yet, and if we stand away on the other tack we shall soon drop her altogether; while if we hold on she will, when we reach that shore, be three or four miles behind us. Of course, she will have a full view of us."
They sailed on the port tack for an hour and then came round again. The brigantine could no longer be seen from the deck, and could only just be made out from the crosstrees.
"I think on this tack," the skipper said, as he stood by the compass after she had gone round, "we shall make the point, and I think that we shall make it ahead of her."
"I think so too, Hawkins. What pace is she going now?"
"Not much more than four knots, sir."
"My only fear is that we shan't get near her before it is dark."
"I think that we have plenty of time for that, sir. You see we got up anchor at half-past six, and it is just twelve o'clock now. Another five hours should take us up to her if the wind holds at this."
By two o'clock the topsails of the brigantine could be again made out from the deck. She was still working along shore, and was on their port bow.
"Another three hours and we shall be alongside of her," the skipper said; "and if I am not mistaken we shall come out ahead of her."
"There is one advantage in the course we are taking, Hawkins. Viewing us, as she will, pretty nearly end on till we get nearly abreast of her, she won't be able to make out our rig clearly."