"That is not a tug-boat: she is a river or a bay steamer, and I am afraid she is faster than this thing," said Christy, when he had obtained all the information he could at the present time. "At any rate, we have no time to spare. Do you think you can steer the Leopard, Percy?"
"I know I can," replied he confidently.
"The boat with the major in it is losing a good deal by lee-way, for he seems to be making no allowance for it."
"What does that mean?" asked Percy, puzzled by the statement.
"She has the wind on her beam, and she drifts to the north almost as much as she goes ahead. He ought to head her for some point to the southward of the Bellevite; but the more mistakes he makes, the better it will be for us."
"I see that he don't seem to be headed anywhere in particular."
"Now, Percy, I am going below to have it out with Spikeley," continued Christy, taking the revolver from his pocket, while he drew a box of cartridges from another. "The Bellevite drifts as well as the boat; but they don't let her go far to the north where the shoal water is, and they turn the screw enough to keep her pretty nearly in the same position."
"I am to steer for her, of course," added Percy.
"No: there is something that looks like buildings on the shore, at least five miles beyond the steamer. Do you see them?"
"I do."