"Specially Turley, sir; but there, I take that back, sir, or he'll be a-calling of me Spring Onions again."
That night was so dark that Jack had some doubts whether he could hit the exact spot from which the light was visible. But he ventured to creep in toward the shore sufficiently near to descry the landmarks, and having at length assured himself on that point, he ran out again, and cruised about, keeping a keen lookout for the light.
Two hours passed. It was near midnight, and he had almost given up hope of success when, to the southwest, he saw a gleam. At the moment the Fury was running up the Channel before the wind. The light evidently came from a vessel. But it had disappeared—no; there it was again; three times the same light was shown and extinguished.
"A signal, Babbage," said Jack. "Hope we shan't be seen."
"Better hold on our course, sir, then beat out. We've to get that there craft atween us and the shore."
Jack acted on the bo'sun's suggestion. In a few minutes the same signal was seen, this time full on the weather beam.
"They haven't answered her yet, sir," said Babbage, "and she won't sail in much closer, 'cos if she do, she won't see the light from the Folly, if so be 'tis that she's looking for."
"No. But I'm afraid she'll see us. She certainly will if we venture too close. Yet if we make too wide a sweep round her she may do whatever mischief she's about before we can make up on her. How far is she out, Babbage?"
"About five mile, I should say, sir."
"Well, I'm going to risk it. We'll run out beyond her, and hit the straight line between her and the Folly; we'll see then if any signaling is going on."