“I think not. They will keep their faces covered up while you are around; for being found out would be almost as bad as being drowned to them.”
The ruffians, probably seeing the sail on the Belle reefed, found that they could do a similar thing with their own canvas. They had fastened the reef-points in some manner, and were running before the gale toward the rocky point. I did not understand what they intended to do; but it did not occur to me that they would be stupid enough to attempt a landing on a lee shore in such a sea as raged at the time. If they had any common sense, it ought to have taught them better.
I let out the sheet, and gave chase. The Belle leaped like a race-horse over the waves, tossing the spray in bucketfuls over Waddie and myself. I hoped to overhaul the Highflyer in season to warn the ruffians of their danger. But they were half a mile to leeward of me when the chase commenced, for I did not think of pursuing them till they began to hoist the sail. I thought it would be time enough to help them when they called for assistance, as I was not quite sure they would not still subject my companion to further indignities if they could catch him on shore.
I was gaining rapidly on the Highflyer, under her clumsy management, and if there had been half a mile farther to run I should have come up with her. The rascals in charge of her appeared to be profiting by their experience. They were daring fellows, as their intentions toward Waddie at the grove fully demonstrated, and they did not exhibit any signs of fear, though I could well believe they were not a little anxious about the future. Probably they had discovered that the Highflyer was a life-boat, for her copper air-tanks were in plain sight in her forward cuddy. To my mind it was a pity that such bold fellows should be such consummate rascals, for so I must call any persons who would tar and feather a boy, under any circumstances.
“What do you suppose they mean to do, Wolf?” asked Waddie, beginning to be much excited by the situation.
“I think they intended to go up to Centreport in your boat, but found they could not go against the wind. They didn’t know how to beat her up. I believe they intend to get ashore now as quick as they can.”
“Do they mean to land on those rocks ahead of them?”
“I should judge that they did. They are not far from them, either,” I replied.
“I may as well say good-by to the Highflyer, then.”
“I shouldn’t wonder if you might say good-by to some of those fellows, also,” I added, very anxious for the result.