"Pull away!" said I to the men in the boat with me.
"Your chances are small, my lad," added the one with whom I had made my trade.
"We have the start of them."
"Not much."
"They have no boat ready."
"Yes, they have. The shipping master's boat is pulling around the bark to keep any of the crew from getting off. There it is; he has hailed it."
I saw a sharp and jaunty-looking boat pull up to the accommodation ladder. Captain Farraday and the new mate leaped into it, and the men gave way with a will.
"Pull, my men," I said, when I saw that my companions were not disposed to use their muscles very severely.
"No use; we can't pull this boat against that one."
"I will give you another sovereign if you will keep out of their way, and land me anywhere in the city," I added, feeling that I had lost all influence over the oarsmen because I had already paid them.