There was little need for him to look about him, anyway, since it was not possible to see anything distinctly at a greater distance than three boat-lengths away.
Almost immediately the "Panther" dropped back out of view. The big motor yacht was now to go along only at her slow cruising speed, but the launch was to make greater haste.
Tom Halstead had taken his post well up in the bow of the rolling little craft. He was listening intently for any betraying sounds ahead in their course.
"This is hardly a big enough boat for a sea like this," grumbled Mr. Jephson, who had taken up his post close to the young captain.
"The sea is a good deal on the roll to-day," Halstead assented, briefly.
"Why, this little craft acts as though she'd turn over and dump us all in the ocean," muttered the assistant district attorney, uneasily.
"The crowd we have aboard makes her sit lower than usual in the water," Tom explained.
"Is there any real danger of our tipping over, Captain?" insisted Mr. Jephson.
"Why, it might happen, of course, sir."
"Do you think it is going to happen?" demanded Mr. Jephson, anxiously.