ith instructions how
to act, but concealing from her for the present the fact that they were
pursued. Most fortunately for the runaways, the young lady was by this
time quite a practised helmsman--or _helmswoman_ rather. She could not
only steer straight, but she also knew the difference between port and
starboard, and understood in which direction to turn the wheel upon
receiving either of those mystic words of command. She consequently now
proved a most useful auxiliary, and left Ned at full liberty to devote
himself to the toilsome task of getting canvas upon the ship.

With the aid of the winch the two men succeeded in getting the main-
topmast staysail set, after which they hauled out the spanker. They
were now running for the passage between the two bluffs, with the wind
over their starboard quarter, the ship in her best possible sailing trim
going through the water at a speed of nearly three knots. This,
however, was not fast enough to suit Ned, for though they had secured a
capital start, and he conjectured that the pursuers were too thoroughly
intoxicated to be capable of pulling a boat at any very great speed, he
knew that at the south-western extremity of the outer basin they would
reach the most difficult part of their navigation. This consisted of a
channel only half a mile in width by about a mile and a quarter in
length, bending to the south-east, where the ship would be almost
completely becalmed under the high land. And it was here, if anywhere,
that he expected to be overtaken. So, without wasting time to ascertain
the whereabouts of the pursuing boat, he hurried aloft and cast off the
lashing from the main-topgallant-staysail, and, sending the sheets down
on deck, descended and helped Price to set the sail. He now had as much
canvas upon the ship as he believed he and the steward could
conveniently manage for the present. He was, therefore, compelled to
content himself with making a tour of the decks and so trimming the
sheets as that the different sails set should draw to the utmost
advantage. Then, and not until then, did he allow himself leisure to
take a peep through the glass at what was going on astern. The sight
which met his eyes was by no means reassuring, for he now saw that there
were no less than _three_ boats in pursuit, the foremost of which--one
of the gigs--was distinctly gaining upon him.

"If they have no firearms with them," said Ned to Price, "I think we may
perhaps be