"Gentle hint to lie to, sir," said the Quarter-master, with an attempt at a smile.
As he spoke I could see the cruiser turning and steaming off after us, flashing a signal to her flag-ship as she did so. Then two small vessels detached themselves from the fleet and prepared to follow us also.
But we were past them all, and had a full head of steam on, and so we could reasonably hope to have a very good run for it at least.
Presently—bang! and another shot whizzed past us and lost itself in the night.
It was a shell, and we heard it explode far ahead as it plunged down into the water.
"Are the night sights all in good order?" I asked Taylor, who stood close by, with his hands in his pockets, as nonchalant as ever, smoking a cigarette.
"Everything's O.K., old man," was his reply. "I'd dearly love to give 'em a taste of our after 4·7. Don't you think we ought to, now?"
"No," said I; "I don't think we will just yet. We'll reserve that for awhile till they get within closer range. They probably have not quite made up their minds yet as to who we are!"
And now the chase grew furious.
We were rushing along for all we were worth, and our funnels were almost red-hot, vomiting sparks and flames as copiously as smoke. The roaring of our furnaces could be plainly heard on deck, and the work in the stoke-hold was enormous. The cruiser behind us was gaining slightly; but if we could manage to escape without much damage for the next hour we should be well within range of Gibraltar, and the enemy would hardly attempt to follow us any further. "Besides," said I to Taylor, "if they hear firing, surely the Rupert or the Polyphemus will put out to reconnoitre, and of course either will be a very valuable help."