"Wait until we're out of the harbor; it's rather dark."
"Go ahead, pull!"
The man obeyed. He was not such a skillful pilot as Brack; as they reached the wall he pulled hard with his right and the boat crashed into the stonework. Carl shot forward, bruising his face; there was a sound of splintering timber; the boatman fell forward. When they recovered, Carl cursed him for a blundering fool. The man found the boat leaked badly; there was nothing for it but to row back as fast as possible and take another.
This caused a delay and enabled Brack to put Hector aboard the Sea-mew and row round by the London Belle in time.
"Who goes there?" shouted Brack.
Carl was sick of the whole business; he was glad to hear Brack's voice. He had been to the London Belle, his story was correct. What a fool he, Carl, had been for his pains!
There was no answer to Brack's hail. Carl said to the man: "Keep on rowing; never mind him."
This did not suit Brack's purpose. He had no desire for Carl to go on board the London Belle; that would upset everything.
Brack went after the boat, quickly overtaking it. By the dim light he saw who was in it.
"You again!" he said with a laugh. "What yer scouring the bay at this time o' night for? Looking for pirates?"