"Good!" said Tarboe. "To-morrow I shall be a rich man, and then they'll
not dare to come again."
So saying, he gave the sail to the wind, and away the Ninety-Nine went
after the one ewe lamb of the Government.
Mr. Martin saw her coming, and gave word for all steam. It would be a
pretty game, for the wind was in Tarboe's favour, and the general
advantage was not greatly with the tug. Mr. Martin was now anxious
indeed to get out of the way of the smuggler. Lafarge made one
restraining effort, then settled into an ironical mood. Yet a half-dozen
times he was inclined to blurt out to Martin what he believed was the
truth. A man, a boy, and a girl to bluff them that way! In his bones he
felt that it was the girl who was behind this thing. Of one matter he
was sure--they had no contraband stuff on board, or Tarboe would not have
brought his daughter along. He could not understand the attitude, for
Tarboe would scarcely have risked the thing out of mere bravado. Why not
call a truce? Perhaps he could solve the problem. They were keeping a
tolerably safe distance apart, and there was no great danger of the
Ninety-Nine overhauling them even if it so willed; but Mr. Martin did not
know that.
What he said to his chief had its effect, and soon there was a white flag
flying on the tug. It was at once answered with a white handkerchief of
Joan's.
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