and now, as the task of
catching up the cutter was given up as impossible, the boat took the
attention of all.

"Why, she's got a lot of men in her," cried Gurr excitedly; "nine or ten
lying down in her bottom."

"Yes," cried Archy; "and it doesn't take ten men to catch a lobster."

"Ahoy, bo's'n!" cried Gurr; "pull off to the west'ard sharp, and cut off
that boat if she makes for that way. Try and head her in under the
cliff where there's no wind, if she tries to pass you. Look out! She
has a lot of men on board."

The direction of the second boat was altered at once, the men began to
pull hard; and just as a dull thud from seaward told that the _White
Hawk_ was still well on the heels of her quarry, the first boat turned
smartly and began to chase.

"I hope you're right, Mr Raystoke," said the master. "I should like to
have one little bit o' fun before we go back aboard. Ah, look at her!
She don't mean us to overhaul her. Be smart, my lads. Don't cheer, but
seem to be taking it coolly. You're right, Mr Raystoke," he added a
minute later; "there's something wrong with that boat, or she would not
want to run away."

For the direction of the little yawl they were making for was suddenly
changed, and it was evident that, seeing how the second boat, commanded
by the boatswain, was going to head her off from the west, she was being
put on the other course, so as to run east.

But the first boat was going rapidly through the water now, and a turn
of the helm changed her course, so that it would be easy to cut the yawl
off from going in the new direction, while an attempt to pass between
the boats and head straight for sea was also met by the steersmen of the
pursuers.

"Why, what's she going to do?" said Gurr. "Ah, my lad, it's all a flam.
Only a lobster-boat after all. She's going to run in under the cliffs
where there's no wind, and of course it's to take up her lobster-pots."

"If she was only going to take up lobster-pots she wouldn't have tried
to run," said Archy sharply. "I'd overhaul her, Mr Gurr."

"Going to, my lad. Don't you be scared about that. I'll overhaul her,
if it's only to get some fresh lobsters for breakfast. There, I told
you so," he continued, after a few minutes' interval, during which the
boat was sailing straight in for the cliffs, about five hundred yards
away from the landing ledge, away to the west; and as the master spoke
the mainsail was rapidly lowered, the jib dropp