"Twenty-seven knots," thought Frank. "What ship can this be?" The cabin seemed to grow unbearable as his excitement increased, and if danger was to be encountered his place was by the side of this girl whom Fate had thrown in his path.
Again the shaft of light, broadening from its base, shot out into the darkness, and swept the water to its outermost fringe, where the gleam mingled with the black night, reaching a few lengths ahead, where it outlined a bare pole on the bank.
"Port your helm; put her over to the Kent sh.o.r.e," the Captain ordered with lowered voice.
The vessel came round, and made across to the other bank.
The search-light swept round again, just as the vessel was near the right bank, and the light shone over the deck, lighting up every detail, before it pa.s.sed on.
"Astern--full speed astern," roared the Captain down the speaking-tube; "starboard your helm; bring her up on the old course."
The vessel backed out as the search-light flew back to the place she had occupied, and then swiftly made over to the Ess.e.x sh.o.r.e, and at another signal from the bridge darted into the shelter of the night.
Frank could hold himself no longer, but flung open the door, and after groping about in the saloon, found the companion-way to the deck. There was a broad white belt of light on his right, but all around and ahead was darkness, intensified by the brightness so near.
"They"ll find us in a minute," spoke the Captain, and Frank, turning, saw dimly two figures on a bridge just ahead of two singularly low funnels, from which poured dense volumes of smoke.
The shaft of light played about the further sh.o.r.e, swept out slowly to mid-stream, then swept back again.
"Stand by, Mr Dixon," said the Captain, down the tube.
The guardship could now be dimly seen behind that glittering eye--a blurr of spars and funnels about a mile up stream.
The light crept over the dark river in a broad track of gleaming silver, came slowly nearer, then, in a blinding flash, shone over the vessel, lighting up every man as he stood at his post, and bringing out the girl"s face in a startling pallor.
The bell sounded its sharp order, the engines answered quicker and quicker, and the long, narrow ship seemed to leap forward, sending up a shower of water, which sparkled in the light, and came aft like rain.
On she rushed--the flames springing from her funnels--the whole frame and body of her vibrating, and the water hissing and splashing before her bows and in her wake.
A ball of white smoke, which for a moment dimmed the flaming light, belched from the warship, followed at fully half a minute by the sullen boom.
"That"s by way of formal notice," said the Captain; "by-and-by she"ll send a sharper summons; better go below, Miss Laura."
"I will stay here," she answered quietly.
The small ship was now abreast of the man-of-war, which had changed its course and was steaming slowly ahead. On the left were the lights of Southend, far ahead the revolving lights of the Nore lightship, and on the port bows was the black hull and green and red lights of a huge steamer.
"That"s a stroke of luck," said the Captain. "We"ll get on the blind side of that ship, and that bulldog daren"t show his teeth until we"re well clear both of Southend and the steamer."
The man-of-war fired another blank charge, but the long, low vessel darted along, shifting her course until she came under the bows of the big ocean steamer.
The search-light, however, soon picked her up beyond, and a minute after there was another report, followed this time by the shrill scream of a sh.e.l.l, than which there are few sounds more threatening. The shot flew high, plunging with a splash far on the port side.
"They cannot hit us, Captain Pardoe, and we are rapidly leaving them."
"They are not trying, Miss Laura. That was just by way of being more peremptory. In ten minutes we"ll be beyond reach of their light, and then there"ll be another spell of safety, unless we are sunk. Hullo, here comes another."
There was another sullen roar, and the gunner had determined on a closer call, for the ball touched the water not a hundred yards off, then ricocheted to the Ess.e.x coast.
"The next one will have us," growled the Captain.
"Steamer"s lights ahead! Starboard bow!" hailed the lookout.
Eyes were taken off the following man-of-war, and strained into--the darkness ahead, out of which presently there stood two lights.
"She"s near us, Mr Webster, and thank your stars for a sound berth to-night for that. We"ll slip by on the port, and then get away under her bulk. Do you think they see her?"
"No, sir; but the steamer "ll make the cruiser see her. She must be in a rare state. Ah! there goes a rocket."
High into the black heavens ahead went a ball of fire, which presently curved over and burst in a shower of blue.
"Looks like a navy signal, sir?"
"Very like. If she is, we"re caught hard and fast."
"There"s an answer from the warship, sir," said Frank, who had turned his eyes aft.
"I wish I understood the game," growled the Captain, banging his fist on the bridge rail. "Oh, she means it this time!"
A red tongue of flame leapt out, a great volume of white smoke; the shot, keeping low, struck the water up, and then there was a loud crash, followed by the whir of splinters.
Frank saw the dark figure at the wheel suddenly sink to the deck, and without losing a moment he bounded down the narrow deck, seized the handle as the wheel was beginning to revolve, and brought it round.
"She"s paying off. What in thunder"s up with the wheel?" roared the Captain. "Mr Webster, take two men aft. Starboard your helm."
Frank put his weight in, and with every sinew straining, brought the vessel round, just as, like a runaway horse that takes the bit in its iron jaws, she had threatened to come broadside on.
"What"s wrong here?" panted Mr Webster anxiously, as he reached the wheel.
"Steersman hit," said Frank shortly; "carry him off. I"ll manage this."
Mr Webster groped for the wounded man, drew him away, and then paused to look up, for they were pa.s.sing the vessel whose lights they had seen.
She was scarcely making any way, and the bulwarks were lined with pale faces, among them those of many women.
"Thank Heaven, she"s no cruiser; hurrah, boys, hurrah!"
The few hands took up the cheer, and the people on the deck above, relieved from some nameless fear at seeing the dark ship slipping away, responded with a feeble shout; the captain, from his lofty bridge, sending a call through his hollow hands: "What"s the meaning of this foolery?"
"Ask the guardship," bellowed Captain Pardoe; "a little target practice.
Good-bye."
The little ship plunged into the welcome darkness, still maintaining her terrific speed, and the search-light could not reach her.
Then the lights were lit, the wounded man carried below, and an inspection made of the ship, when it was found that the iron bulwarks had been pierced a little forward of the wheel.
"Send the steersman forward!" shouted the Captain.
Frank was relieved, and walked to the bridge.
"What"s your name, my man?"