“There’s a steamer in the offing, sir, standing in for the bay,” said Archie, coming up to him.
“Another enemy,” exclaimed Higson; “we shall have enough of them.”
“We’ll tackle them, notwithstanding,” answered Jack; “they show no inclination, however, to come to close quarters.”
Another shot from the enemy struck the Tornado.
“The commander is just a little o’er brave,” observed Dicky Duff to Billy Blueblazes; “we’ve got terrible odds against us.”
“He knows what he is about, and he’ll manage to lick them all, one after another, depend on that,” said Billy.
“I don’t exactly see how he’s going to do that,” said Dicky. “If we could but tackle one at a time it would be fairer, and we should have a better chance of licking them.”
“That’s just what they don’t want to give us,” said Billy.
“Another steamer coming in from the southward, sir,” said Archie, who had been looking out.
“Friend or foe?” observed Jack to Higson; “if the latter, we must stand out and meet her, and leave the three vessels in the bay till we can come back and settle with them.”