“Understands that, my lads,” said the lieutenant; “but you must jump down quickly—I am losing a deal of time.”
“Never mind, sir,” said Vince; “I’ve been sailing all about here ever since I was quite a little fellow, and I know the rocks too. The schooner must tack round in half an hour’s time, and then run east.”
“Yes, I know that.”
“Well, sir, you can run from here right across, and save miles.”
The officer looked at him keenly.
“The passage is called the Narrows, and it’s all deep water. You see the big gull rock away yonder—the one with the white top?”
“Well!”
“Make straight for that, and go within half a cable’s length. Then tack, keep the south point right over the windmill for your bearings, and sail due east too. Then you can cut the smuggler off.”
“Hah! yes; it’s down on the chart, but I did not dare to try it. Thank you, my lad; that is grand. Ah! here’s the boat.”
The boys shrank back, so that old Daygo should not see them, while the lieutenant stepped up to the side and bullied the old man, who protested humbly that he did not understand the signal.