Yes, off that temple there up on the hill." The men gave a cheer, and the boat sped on fast now, feeling the push given by the falling tide, and the short distance that lay between us; and the spot where we had lain at anchor so many days was soon traversed--the latter part in perfect silence, with Mr Brooke standing in the stern-sheets gazing straight ahead, and turning his eyes from side to side of the busy water thoroughfare.
"She has shifted her moorings," he said at last.
"Has she, sir ?" I replied, as I recalled how the furnace fires were going and the _Teaser_ was getting up steam when we started.
"Yes; how tiresome!" he muttered.

"Just, too, when we want to communicate at once." "But you can see her, sir ?" "No, my lad, no," he cried.

"How can I see her if she is not here ?" "But I thought you said she had shifted her moorings, sir ?" "Yes, and gone down the river somewhere.

Hang it all, she can't have sailed without us." "They wouldn't do that, sir," I cried, feeling quite startled at the idea of the ship leaving us with our small boat in the midst of strangers.

"Why, she must have had news of some other junks, sir, and gone in pursuit, or is it a mistake?
We can't have come far enough.
No; this is the spot." The men were looking at me inquiringly, just as men accustomed to be led lean on their superiors for orders, even if one of those superiors be a mere boy, while I, acting in precisely the same spirit, looked up to Mr Brooke, and listened excitedly for what he would say next.
It seemed to be a long time before he spoke, and then it was between his teeth and with angry vehemence, as he dropped down into his seat.
"After all this hard struggle to get back with our news," he muttered, in so low a tone that I only heard his words, while the men sat with their oars balanced gazing forward to see if they could make out the _Teaser's_ funnel and tall spars.