"We are going to have more wind," said the mate, looking anxiously about him. "I think I perceive it freshening already."
"I fear the same thing," said Fred, who was manifestly very uneasy. "We are now about two miles apart, and the prospect is that that will be cut down one-half by sunset."
"All is not lost. When the sun goes down, with us a mile apart, we shall be invisible; but they will crowd all speed, and stand a good chance of coming up with us again."
"There is hope and yet great risk in that, for if we can throw them off the track we shall be safe, for we can easily get beyond their range of vision long before sunrise; but at the same time, in making these sharp turns, we shall lose a great deal of ground, provided we don't succeed, and if they once get in sight of us after the moon rises, the race will be ended, for we won't gain a chance to dodge them again."
"There will be the worst fight you ever saw. We shall have to begin by shooting these two, or pitching them overboard, if they don't happen to get their work in ahead of us, and then we shall have more than twenty savage islanders to keep off--if we can."
"We are pretty well armed, Captain Fred."
"Yes, we have our pistols, and there is a musket apiece for you, me and Inez--for she will have to take a hand in the fight."
"And there will be no braver than she. Have they any firearms on board?"
"I'm sorry to say they have, and that's what makes me more anxious than anything else. There are spears, knives, battle-axes and at least six loaded muskets, and what is more, the men who have them in hand know how to use them."
Mate Storms looked anxious, as well he might, for this was a phase of the question which had not presented itself to him. The case being as it was, the pursuers would be likely to begin firing as soon as they came within range, and when close in, the matter would be entirely within their hands.
Everything seemed to augur ill for the fugitives. The wind was steadily increasing and the flying proa was dashing through the water at a tremendous rate. The pursuing one had already shifted its course, so that this early in the afternoon the struggle had begun and settled down to a virtual test of speed.