It took the Blackbirder three days' hard work to clear away her damaged spars and refit sufficiently for the voyage. Her sulky master suggested a trip ashore to procure some new topmasts. Captain Cathie urged him to go, but expressed doubts as to the probability of his return; and on the morning of the fourth day, the launch having filled their water barrels for them, the Torch got up steam and towed her enemy through the opening in the reef and out to a fair offing, and then cast her off and lay watching till she was hull-down on the eastward horizon. And the very last thing the scowling crew saw—for that time, at all events—was the menacing black mouth of the long gun, and Captain Cathie standing patting its big brown breech affectionately, but in a most unpleasantly meaning way.
"Well, thank God we're rid of them at last!" said
Aunt Jannet Harvey with fervour, as the brig caught the breeze and drew slowly away.
"We shall see them again, ma'am," said Captain Cathie.
[Illustration: "We shall see them again," said Captain Cathie (missing from book)]
"I wish we'd scuttled them," said Aunt Jannet.
CHAPTER XV
WHERE THOU GOEST