When he was thus disposed of, a crowd of villainous-looking men asked eager questions, which were impatiently answered by the four who had been ashore.
The command to put out to sea was given, and the huge engines were set to working with all possible speed.
As the smugglers’ steamer got under way, the eyes of all on deck were anxiously fixed on the light that still gleamed from the summit of the bluff at Rocky Beach.
“It’s a powerful light,” said one.
“Yes. It looks like bad business for us. I’ll be glad when we’re out of sight of it.”
At that instant a flash came out of the darkness but a short distance ahead of the vessel, followed by the thundering report of a cannon.
A wild cry of alarm arose among the smugglers. They rushed hither and thither in consternation, scarcely heeding the yells of their commander to seize their arms and prepare for a struggle.
Another flash and report came, and a ball whizzed through the air over the heads of the panic-stricken crew.
The commander roared and swore.
“Keep your wits about you, you hounds! Don’t run about like a pack of frightened sheep. We never can be caught in this darkness. We can crowd on all steam, dodge about, and be out of danger before morning.”