They did show them. They rowed with unity of motion and with all the force God had given them; rowed until even in the chill of night their faces ran with perspiration and their arms became bars of aching fire.
And yet, it was not enough. Those others were rowing with the desperation of those who hear the clanging of a prison gate behind them. Beyond a doubt they knew prison life. Theirs was the frenzy of those whose souls are stirred to the depths by great fear. They knew fear. This was their only emotion. Love, pity, compassion, these they did not know. So they worked with the frenzy of despair.
And they gained now a boat’s length, now another, another and yet another. Each wave crest that lifted them high found them closer to their prey.
They would have won but for one man’s over-reaching hate and the hosts of “Invisible Ones” that the girl believed peopled the heavens.
Of a sudden, weary with rowing, overcome by his burning hate, the man nearest the prow threw down his oars. The next instant a shot rang out and a bullet sang across the waters.
“Lie down in the boat!” was Red’s command to Berley.
The girl hesitated, but obeyed.
On the crest of the wave the boy bent low. Once again a bullet sang close at hand.
In the trough he rowed desperately. Swinging his boat half about, he avoided, as long as he could, rising on the next crest. When at last he did rise, he dropped flat beside his companion.
Just in time. A bullet crashing into the boat passed over them.