The boys dashed again to the deck.
They quickly discerned the dim shape toward which the Senorita had been directly advancing.
Had they, too, been sighted?
The Senorita swerved from her course, and made almost a right angle to her former course, though, of course, on a wide curve!
That swung them in toward land, again, for it was the safer way. Then, on a quartering line, partly on the true path and partly drawing toward land, they held steadily on.
There came across the water a vivid flash, but the wind swept away the cutter’s voice as her cannon spoke.
“Full speed ahead!” was the order to the engineer.
The Senorita trembled and strove, and behind her the cutter, her headway increasing, again took up the chase.
“But she’s behind us now, and she may have to turn around—I couldn’t see which was her bow, she was so far away,” Cliff said.
“I’m half afraid we’ll show her our heels,” Tom whispered. “And I’m half glad. If we can get to an island or close enough to swim to one, they can sink her and welcome!”