The two boats were not a hundred yards apart, but the roughness of the water, on which the row boat bobbed about like a cork, rendered the volley ineffective.
"They're good soldiers with an idiot commanding them," said Sam.
"Why ?" asked Tom, who was very coolly studying the situation.
"Because he made them fire too soon," replied Sam, "and we can slip by now while they're loading.

Don't shoot, Joe!" he exclaimed to the black boy who was manifestly on the point of doing so.

"Don't shoot, we've got the best of them now; we are past them and making the distance greater every second.

Give them a cheer to take home with them.

Hurrah!" It was raining now, and the wind was blowing a gale, so that Sam's boat was running at a speed which made pursuit utterly hopeless.