"Yes," was the reply. "What do you want?"
"Is Mr. Charles Rignold on board?"
"Yes; do you want him? We'll slow down and you can come alongside."
This reply added to Drake's perplexity. The accent of the speaker was not British, and the "Yes" instead of the nautical "Ay, ay, sir!" was somewhat suspicious.
Cervillo, on sighting the aero-hydroplane, was thrown into a state of terror. He was afraid that the little craft would immediately call upon its parent ship for assistance; but when the Mosquito—which was evidently operating unsupported by her consorts—descended to the surface of the sea, he took courage. If he could but lure the Mosquito alongside, he might be able to repeat his tactics by having hostages on board. To his surprise and delight the little craft was coming unsuspiciously under his lee, like a bird to the fowler's net.
Under the Serena's bulwarks crouched half-a-dozen men with pigs of ballast ready to drop into the frail craft, and ropes to rescue the English officer and his crew.
CHAPTER XXII
JUAN CERVILLO KEEPS HIS VOW
Suddenly Drake whispered to the artificer-engineer to drive full speed ahead, and, springing aft, he thrust the helm hard over. Heeling outwards till her coamings were awash, the Mosquito swung round, then, steadying herself, "planed" swiftly through the water with quite two-thirds of her keel in the air. Not till the little craft had put a mile betwixt her and the dumbfounded Cervillo did the lieutenant order speed to be reduced.