"We don't want to knock any more splinters off her than necessary." "We're too near, Steve.

The deck's getting in the way." "I'll back her off." The _Adventurer_ retreated until Wink, his elbow resting on the closed cover of the chart-box, could train his revolver on the _Follow Me's_ ports.

Several of the others emerged from the cabins and huddled from sight on the deck.
"What's the next act, Steve ?" inquired Phil.
Steve shook his head.

"I'm wondering," he answered.

"About all we can do is keep them from running away until they talk sense." "Why not let them run?
We can go faster than they can." "I'm afraid of tricks," responded Steve.