Page:The Great Secret.djvu/72

56, now growing brighter as the furnace doors were opened, and then becoming dim again when the fires were stocked and the doors shut. A little longer and once more the old vibration began to pulsate through them, and the Rockhampton had started again upon her interrupted voyage, to where—it was impossible to calculate.

Philip hoped that they would go for some mainland; they were not far from Africa. There were also islands to the south that they might make. It was all the wildest of speculation where they might be going, as the capture of the ship was the most improbable and unprecedented of actions. Whatever course they took, they would have to sail rapidly and out of the way of ordinary traffic in the meantime, whatever else they meant to do with their huge capture in the future.

"Yes, they must take us to some deserted portion of the coast, or to some island out of the way, which possibly they have decided upon beforehand; therefore, if we keep out of their sight, we may soon be in a position to make our escape."

As he was saying this softly, he could feel that the engines were in full action, while from the upper decks came the sounds of work. She was increasing her speed with every moment that passed, and the captors evidently knew what they were about.

Two hours passed without the silence being further broken by the three hidden ones. Adela sat so quietly against the arm of Philip that he thought she must have fallen asleep, and he therefore did not move, for fear of disturbing her. Indeed, now that the vessel was steaming on in her usual manner, he felt almost inclined to fall asleep, only for the memory of the horrors which lay