“I should think not,” was the reply. “No, I don’t think we need trouble ourselves about that.”
“Right, then. Get well out into the offing, and then sail for south-east by south.”
The mate grunted, gave an order or two, with the result that a gaff-topsail was run up, and the schooner heeled over more and more, while now the dim light that had been thrown down on the binnacle was increased a little, and the skipper took his place beside the steersman.
“That means that he is not afraid of our being seen,” said Poole quietly. “I say, what an escape we had! Don’t you call this exciting?”
“Yes,” said Fitz; “rather more so than I like. Let’s go right forward again to where the look-out men are.”
“To help them keep a sharp look-out for rocks? There are none out here, or we shouldn’t be going at this rate.”
“Think that they will come after us?”
“Sure to,” said Poole. “Full steam ahead.”
“Then they’ll see us again at daylight.”
“Think so? Why, we have got all the night before us, and the gunboat’s captain isn’t likely to follow in our wake.”