Page 100 of A Castaway in Cornwall
The skipper called more commands. As the cutter pursued, the lugger crew strove to outpace it.
“Better go below, Miss Callaway,” Treeve said. “Don’t want the boom knocking you into the water.” He said it lightly, but she saw the tension in his face.
She acquiesced. “Very well.”
Laura climbed below but kept the hatch door open, watching the activity with anxious fascination.
Alexander stayed above, helping the crew. His years as a naval man served him well, giving him skills and experience withsails and rigging. The wind continued to build, the eight-foot waves breaking into gleaming streaks, like the manes of galloping white horses.
Treeve again studied the distant ship’s progress through his glass. “She’s still gaining on us.”
The skipper cursed. He gave the helm to the first mate and grabbed the glass. “Lemme see.” Another curse. “That’s theDolphinall right.”
“Keep calm. We don’t have any contraband on board. Yet.”
“No? What about ’im?” The first mate lifted his chin toward Alexander.
“Would a revenue cutter have any interest in him?” Dyer asked.
“Mebbe. If the militia asked the preventive men to aid their search.”
“Or they may think we look suspicious for some other reason,” Treeve said.
Dyer scowled. “I don’t want to be fined or arrested when the only illegal cargo we’re hauling is a Frenchman and his sweetheart.”
“If they stop us,” Treeve said, “there’s probably enough equipment on board to fine us, what with the drift lines, sinking stones, bladders, and the like.”
“I’ll go stash ’em all in the hidden compartment,” Jackson offered. “Unless you want me to throw ’em overboard?”
“Not yet. See if they get near enough to hoist the warning flag.”
“You really think they may just be patrolling and have no interest in us?”
Treeve shrugged. “Possibly.”
Dyer frowned. “Want to risk it?”
“Not really. What else do you suggest?”
“We’re near Land’s End. We’ll soon approach the Longships.”
“Right. We’ll need to sail around them.”
“Or we could stay between them and shore.”
Treeve ran a hand over his face. “I thought there was no safe passage between Longships and Land’s End, only shallow shoals and tidal eddies.”
“Thereisa passage between,” Dyer said. “It’s narrow and complicated and therefore seldom used. We risk hitting Kettle’s Bottom, but easier for us than a cutter with its deeper draught.”
“If we make such a risky maneuver, we’ll erase any doubt that we’re trying to evade them.”
“True. But wewillevade them.”
Treeve grimaced. “For how long? They will just sail around the hazards and catch up with us.”
“It would buy us time.”
“Time for what?”
