We can see that she is sailing very fast; but how fast has not yet been demonstrated.

How high should you rate her speed, Mr.Makepeace ?" "I should say, Captain Passford, that she was making eighteen knots an hour.

She is kicking up a big fuss about it; and I'll bet a long-nine cigar that she is doing her level best." "I don't believe she is doing any better than that," added Christy.
"Make the course south south-west, Mr.Baskirk." "South south-west, sir," replied the executive officer.
The course of the ship was changed, and Christy planked the deck from the quarter-deck to the forecastle in order to obtain the best view he could of the relative positions of the St.Regis, the chase, and the two steamers astern of her.

The blockade-runner showed no colors; and no flag could have been of any service to her.

She appeared still to be very confident that she was in no danger, evidently relying wholly upon her great speed to carry her through to her destination.
The "highflyer," as the second lieutenant called her every time he alluded to the blockade-runner, and the two pursuers, occupied the three angles of a triangle.