Now the red light was swinging to and fro on the point as if it were a signal.
“I guess the revolutionists are camped there as thick as flies round molasses,” hazarded Stanley. “What are we to do, sir—keep on?”
“Yes, keep on!” ordered the middy in a tense voice. Though he strove to keep them calm, his accents were vibrant with suppressed excitement.
“Cut in there, Stanley, cut in!” he exclaimed suddenly, as the launch in the lead began to turn her nose toward the shore. By this time the naval launch had forged up into an inside position, and lay between the revolutionaries’ craft and the point. If there was shoal water there should be no difficulty in cutting the gun-runner off.
“Full speed ahead, and no monkeying with those engines,” grated out the middy, with so fierce a look that the engineer instantly obeyed.
Up and up they crept, without apparently being perceived, till they were within a boat’s length. Then a man was seen to leap upward on the stern of the other launch and gaze back. He gave a shout of surprise as he saw the other boat creeping up to intercept them. Already the naval launch had cut the revolutionary agents off from their expected landing place.
“Pray Heaven we don’t hit a rock, and we’ve got them,” breathed Stanley.
Bang!
There was a flash of fire from the leading launch, and a bullet whistled past the heads of the pursuers.
“Now, then, wade in!” cried the midshipman excitedly.