“So am I, Tom Jecks,” I said; “but we can follow them.”
“Arter we’ve had another naval engagement, sir. I say, look astern; I do like the impidence of these here savages, chasing on us like this, and they’re gaining on us fast.”
“No; only just holding their own.”
“Gaining, sir.”
“No.”
“Yes, sir.”
I took a long look back at the boat, and counted the black caps and flattened limpet-shaped straw hats of the blue-jacketed men on board.
“Seven of ’em,” I said half aloud.
“Eight, sir; I counted ’em twice. One on ’em is a-lying down now, but he was a-setting up a little while ago. Afraid we shall open fire, I expect.”
“And that’s what we shall have to do,” I said. “A rifle bullet or two sent over their heads would make them give up.”