I shepherded Christine and Campbell to the cockpit, and, leaving them there, lent what assistance I could to the others in the task of getting under way. Within five minutes of our feet touching the deck the anchor was hauled in, and we were heading out into the open estuary, with the black water rippling past our stern. Bobby, who had taken the wheel, signalled to me to come aft. "You'll find a pair of night glasses in the cabin," he observed. "You'd better go up into the bows and keep a look-out." I nodded. "If you've got such a thing as a spare gun," I said, "I'll borrow that too." "There are a couple of Webleys about somewhere," he replied. "Ask Jenkins for them and give the other one to Campbell." I dropped down the narrow hatch, and, having discovered the glasses, made my way forward to where Jenkins was busy with the engines. He left them for a moment, to reappear with a brace of useful-looking revolvers, and thus equipped I crawled back to the cockpit. I found Christine and the Inspector sitting side by side, apparently on the most friendly terms. "Here you are, Campbell," I said, offering him his choice. "I promised you a bit of shooting, and the odds are that you'll get it." With a significant gesture the detective tapped his hip. "Not for me, thank you," he replied. "If Dr. Manning wants to argue I've got an old friend here who'll do all the talking that's necessary." Christine stretched out her hand. "I'll take the other one," she announced. Campbell made an attempt to interfere, but he was too late to be effective. "You needn't worry about me," said Christine reassuringly. "I know how to use a revolver." "I'm not surprised to hear it, miss," was the answer. "All the same, if it comes to a shooting match, the proper place for you is in the cabin." "He's right, Christine," I added. "For heaven's sake keep under cover when we run alongside." She looked up at me eagerly. "You think we shall catch them, then?" "Of course we shall," I answered. "It's not likely that they can do more than twenty, and Bobby can knock nearly forty out of this old jigger." I squeezed her hand comfortingly in the darkness. "I'm going up forward now to keep a look-out for them," I continued. "As soon as you hear me let off a yell you'll know that they're in sight." With surprising tact Campbell turned away his head, and, having taken full advantage of the opportunity, I swung myself up on to the deck and started off in the direction of the bows. We were now racing through the water at a tremendous speed, the whole frail shell quivering and rocking beneath the powerful beat of the engine. On either side a great rolling wave curved away from the ship's stern, and behind us a broad wake of white foam gleamed and tossed in the fitful light of the moon. I crept forward to the end of the deck, and, crouching down in the angle of the railing, stared long and steadily through my glasses.