er light and causing a darkness to fall upon the scene
that, for a few seconds and until the eye grew accustomed to it, seemed
almost Egyptian in its intensity, while the breeze freshened to such an
extent as to careen the sailing-boat gunwale-to and nearly double her
speed through the water. Her slight timbers creaked and groaned with
the increased pressure put upon them by the heavy drag of the boats in
tow, and Dyer laid his hand apprehensively upon the painter of the
leading boat, strained as taut as a bar; but it was no time for
vacillation, the obscurity and the increased strength of the wind were
almost worth men's lives at such a moment, and George, who was tending
the boat's mainsheet, hung on to every inch of it, like grim death.
Once, as they went foaming close past a cluster of small traders, moored
three abreast alongside the quay, just as his eyes were becoming
accustomed to the sudden darkness, George thought he saw a man's head
suddenly appear above the rail of one of them, and was almost certain
that a moment later he heard a faint hail, but he took no notice of it
beyond inquiring of Dyer whether he had heard anything--to which the
pilot replied in the negative; and five minutes later they were clear of
the harbour and all danger of detection was for the moment at an end.

The galleon, tall and stately, was now distinctly visible, riding head
to wind, with a single anchor down, her three poop lanterns lighted, and
a lantern glimmering under the heel of her spritsail mast and straight
toward her sped the flotilla of boats, threshing through the short,
choppy sea raised by the freshening breeze and throwing the spray in
heavy showers over their crews. George, no longer afraid of his voice
being heard, hailed the crew of the leading boat, ordering them to
protect the priming of their weapons from the spray, and to pass the
caution along the line, and then directed his attention to the galleon.

Another quarter of a mile, and the time for action had come. With a
warning shout to the boats astern, he gave orders for the sail to be
lowered, and a minute later he and his crew had transferred themselves
to the largest row-boat, the sailing-boat that had served them so well
was cast adrift, the painters were cast off, and the boats, each now a
separate entity, formed in line abreast and, with muffled oars, gave way
for the galleon, their crews not hurrying themselves but pulling a long,
steady stroke that en