‘She’s the “Shark”!’ thundered Wilfrid, ‘the flag she is flying is a lie. Finn,’ he cried in a voice so savagely imperious, so confoundedly menacing, that I saw Miss Laura shrink, whilst the poor skipper gave a hop as though he had touched something red-hot; ‘are we overhauling that vessel?’ ‘Yes, Sir Wilfrid.’ ‘How long will it take us to come within gunshot of her?’ Finn scratched the back of his head. ‘Mr. Monson, sir,’ said he, addressing me, ‘that gun’ll throw about three-quarters of a mile, I allow.’ ‘Call it a mile,’ said I. My cousin, with his nostrils distended to the widest, his respiration hysteric, his whole body on the move, and with that _raised_ look in his face I have formerly described, stared at Finn as though he would slay him with his gaze. The skipper scratched the back of his head again. ‘Well, your honour, if yon schooner holds as she is and this here breeze don’t take off, we ought to be within gun-shot,’ here he produced a silver watch of the size and shape of an apple, ‘in three hours’ time, making it about half-past five.’ ‘How far is she distant now?’ ‘Betwixt three and four mile, Sir Wilfrid.’ ‘Get your gun ready.’ ‘A blank shot, your honour?’ ‘A blank devil and be damned to you. Load with ball. Who’s your gunner?’ ‘We shall have to manage amongst us, Sir Wilfrid,’ turning a face of alarm upon me. I was about to remonstrate, but there was an expression in the eye that my cousin bent on me at that instant that caused me to take Miss Jennings’ hand as an invitation to her to cross the deck and walk. ‘Charles,’ said he, ‘you told me that you knew something about gunnery. Will you handle that weapon yonder for me?’ ‘Wilf, it is madness,’ said I. ‘What! plump a shot into a craft that may not be the vessel you want! or, which in my opinion is just as bad, fire at with a chance of sinking a yacht with a lady aboard--that lady your wife--the woman whom you have embarked on this extraordinary adventure to rescue?’ My blood rose with my words. I dared not trust myself to reason with him. I crossed the deck with Miss Laura, and when we faced round I spied Wilfrid marching forwards with Finn, and presently he was beside of the gun gesticulating vehemently to a body of seamen who had collected round the piece.