"I have also full faith that Captain Bland will do the right thing about it," he added, "for, while I have always found you Yankees sharp as knives in a trade, I have yet to meet one whom I wouldn't trust." "Thank you, Mr.Baldwin," said the skipper, "and I shall try my best not to be the first to abuse your confidence." So the paper was signed, and White had barely laid down his pen when the occupants of the cabin were startled by a loud cry from above, followed almost immediately by a distant shot.

Hurrying on deck they found that the schooner had reached open water and was beginning to feel the influence of an offshore breeze.

At the same time the man whom White had left at the tiller was pointing up the coast, where they caught sight of a steam launch that had just cleared South Head.
"He fired a shot at us," announced the steersman.
"That's all right 'long's he didn't hit us," replied Captain Bland.
"It is our French friend, and he only took that way of hinting that he wished us to wait for him.

I don't think we can afford the time just now, though--leastways, I can't.

Hello there in boats! Drop your tow lines and come alongside." "Do you think there is any chance of our getting away from him ?" asked Cabot.
"Dunno.