You'll barely catch her, I'm afraid," he added, glancing at the clock.
They hurried to the edge of the quay.
"Look here," Quest cried, raising his voice, "I'll give a ten pound note to any one who gets me out to the _Barton_ before she sails." The little party were almost thrown into a tug, and in a few minutes they were skimming across the smooth water.

Just as they reached the steamer, however, she began to move.
"Run up alongside," Quest ordered.
"She won't stop, sir," the Captain of the tug replied doubtfully.

"She is an hour late, as it is." "Do as I tell you," Quest insisted.
They raced along by the side of the great steamer.

An officer came to the rail and shouted down to them.
"What do you want ?" "The Captain," Quest replied.
The Captain came down from the bridge, where he had been conferring with the pilot.
"Keep away from the side there," he shouted.

"Who are you ?" "We are in search of a desperate criminal whom we believe to be on board your steamer," Quest explained.