He dared not
return to the coast, bad as he needed water; for the alarm once given,
other cruisers would be on the watch there. So he determined to make
for the Cape Verdes, and risk the chance of being able to water in
those islands. Should no prying war ships happen along he anticipated
little difficulty.
The day wore away slowly. It was about an hour by sun in the afternoon
before the fog began to lift. A sailor was at each mast head watching
for the Adams, as the course of the corvette was entirely unknown.
"Sail ho!" sang out one of these lookouts as the mist, rolling
eastward, began to show a clear horizon towards the north.
In a minute both captain and mate were aloft. There was the Adams
about four miles away, and somewhat astern to the lee quarter. Almost
at the same time the Wanderer was observed from the cruiser, as the
latter began to pile up her canvas with a rapidity that evinced a
sudden cause therefor. As the mate returned to the deck Gary called:
"Ease away, Mr. Rucker. We've got just the wind that suits us, and I
think we have the advantage this time."
With the light breeze that continued, and with the sheets free, the
Wanderer was at her best. By the time the sun went down it could be
seen that the war ship was losing ground.
When night closed in she was fully five miles astern. With a heavier
wind the advantage would have been on her side, but as it was, when
morning dawned the Adams was not in sight.
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