“I am not so sure of that,” said Adam. “But they have a bad cause and we have a good one to fight for. We will get the oars out, lads,” he added, addressing his crew.
The Nancy thus assisted made good way, for the wind being light and off-shore, as has been said, the water was perfectly smooth, and the oars helped her along. Still it became evident to Captain Headland that she was not likely to overhaul the lugger. He therefore agreed with Harry that it would be best to get on board the cutter if they could.
The cutter was, however, sailing away from them, apparently watching the movements of the lugger. Their hope was that the Nancy might be seen, and that she might stand back to speak her.
The day was now drawing on, and Harry began to think of returning to Downside. Still they were unwilling to abandon all hopes of rescuing Jacob. They had no means of making a signal to draw the attention of the cutter, and if they could not get on board before dark, there was little prospect of their doing so at all.
The old fisherman sat in the stern-sheets, calm and apparently unmoved, though more eager than any one to overtake the craft on board which his only remaining son had been so barbarously carried off. Often he said to himself with the patriarch of old, “If I am bereaved of my children I am bereaved;” for he could not help seeing the little prospect there was of recovering his boy.
Already the sun had set behind the land, and the gloom of evening was stealing over the leaden ocean when the cutter was seen to haul her wind. Presently she came about and stood to the northward.
“We may still have a chance of overhauling her, sir,” exclaimed Adam, his hopes reviving.
Headland and Harry thought so too, although both were unwilling to remain out longer than they could help.
“Julia will probably ride back to Texford by herself when she finds that we have not returned; or will remain at our cousins and send over to say that we have been detained,” observed Harry, divining his friend’s thoughts.
“I fear that we shall cause the ladies much anxiety, as they will not know what has become of us,” observed Headland.