The way on the gallivat increased. There was not a great
distance now to be covered, it was unnecessary to husband their strength,
and with still more furious menaces Fuzl Khan got out of the sturdy
Marathas all the energy of which they were capable. The escaped prisoners
needed no spur; they were working with might and main, for dear life.
Desmond had to steer by guesswork and such landmarks as were afforded by
the lights on shore. He peered anxiously ahead, hoping to see the dim
shapes of the three grabs; but this was at present impossible, since they
lay between him and the seaward extremity of the fort, where lights had
not yet appeared. Looking back he saw a number of torches flitting along
the shore; and now two or three dark objects, no doubt boats, were moving
from the farther side of the jetty towards the gallivats. At the same
moment he caught sight of these he saw at last, rising from the
gallivats, the thin tongue of flame he had so long expected.
But now that it had come at last, showing that the work on board had been
thorough, he almost regretted it, for it was instantly seen from the
shore and greeted by a babel of yells caught up in different parts of the
town and fort. As at a signal the torches no longer flickered hither and
thither aimlessly, but all took the same direction towards the jetty. The
hunt was up!
Glancing round, Desmond suddenly gave the order to cease rowing, and
putting the helm hard down just avoided crashing into a dark object
ahead.
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