"Tide is against us, still," Terence said presently. "I don't think we are any nearer Jersey that when we first saw it."
"Look there!" Ryan exclaimed, a few minutes later, "there is a lugger coming out from the direction of Granville."
"So there is, Dick, and with the wind behind her, she won't be very long before she is here. I should say that she is about six or seven miles off, and an hour will bring her up to us."
"I will get out an oar, Terence. That will help us a bit. We can change about, occasionally."
Terence was steering with the other oar, while he held the sheet. The boat was travelling at a good rate, but the lugger was fast running down towards them.
"There is a schooner coming out from Jersey!" Terence exclaimed, joyously. "If she is a British privateer we may be saved yet. I had just made up my mind that we were in for another French prison."
Ryan looked over his shoulder.
"She is farther off than the lugger," he said.
"Yes, but the current that is keeping us back is helping her on towards us. It will be a close thing; but I agree with you, I am afraid that the lugger will be here first.
"Change seats with me. I will have a spell at the oar."