The deserters sprang over the rail, the line was cast off, the third mate took his stand at the wheel, and the Swallow again began her voyage. As she rounded the point, the runaways strained their eyes in every direction, and were delighted to discover that the schooner was not in sight. But their joy was of short duration, for Tom pointed out something in the direction of the village, that instantly destroyed all their hopes of a long and pleasant cruise, and caused Johnny Harding to say, “Now, fellows, the chase begins in earnest.” Away off in the direction of the light-house pier, they saw a red light dancing over the little waves, and heard the loud puffing of a steamer. The man who had gone to the village had procured assistance in the shape of one of Mr. Newcombe’s fast tugs.
“What shall we do now, Johnny?” asked the deserters, crowding around the third mate. “Do you suppose she is after us?”
“Of course she is!” said one of the “landlubbers.” “We might as well surrender. We can’t beat that tug; and, besides, I don’t much like the idea of going to sea in this little boat. I am far enough from shore already.”
“Nonsense,” exclaimed Johnny. “We won’t talk of surrender yet, for there may be a chance for escape. As for this ‘little boat,’ she is perfectly safe; I wouldn’t be afraid to cross the Atlantic in her. Now, keep still, and let us see what those fellows intend to do.”
As the lights on the tug showed that she was going toward the upper end of the island, Johnny, without waiting to consult Captain Rich, brought the sloop about, and shaped her course toward the village again, in hopes they might pass her as they had passed the schooner. For ten minutes the excitement on board the sloop was intense. The tug, going at a rate of speed that would have rendered escape impossible had the deserters been discovered, kept on toward the head of the island; and, although the runaways sometimes thought she was coming directly toward them, finally passed the sloop, which was now moving slowly down the island, as close to the beach as the third mate dared to go. Their pursuers had been evaded, and the runaways were free to continue their cruise.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CRUISE OF THE SWALLOW.
