His idea was that a shark attacking the white handkerchief would jerk the cord and thus give warning of its presence in the rear, in time for him to be ready with his sword blades.
The wind increasing from the east, Paul again tried the sail, still steering south, toward Malabata Point; but again found it ineffectual.
He was then about nine miles from Tarifa and though having paddled constantly, he did not show the slightest signs of fatigue.

The westward current continuing, it looked for a time as though he would be carried into the Atlantic.

He turned his course southeast and fought against it.

At two o'clock, he was passed by the British steamer, Glenarn, eastward bound, and was loudly cheered by the people on her deck.

At two-thirty o'clock, a very strong breeze with a rapid current setting eastward, caused a high sea and Boyton had great difficulty in keeping near the boat, his distance from her increasing every moment until he disappeared from view altogether.