The British fired half a dozen more shots at the fleeing boat; but the bullets began dropping behind. They were out of reach of their longest range muskets.
"There ain't no danger now," declared Sukey. "They are not in the game."
The breeze continued strong, and the little craft boldly cleft the waters, as it sped forward over the bounding waves.
"It's no use to be wearing ourselves out, Fernando," said Terrence. "The good breeze is doin' more for us than a hundred oars could do."
They put in their sweeps and, mounting the rail aft, clung to rigging, and shouted derision and defiance at their pursuers.
Although the Britons had little hope or expectation of overtaking them, yet, with that bull-dog tenacity characteristic of Englishmen, they continued the chase.
"That danger is over," said Terrence, as they once more resumed their seats in the boat.
"What would they have done with us, Terrence, had they captured us?"
"Faith, it's hard telling; but I think we'd found it unpleasant."
"Wasn't the fight fair?"