Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/124

108 wiser to carry out the best measures that the circumstances will admit, rather than to let things slide because you may fancy that nothing can be of any avail.

The foremost vessel having arrived at a distance of perhaps seven miles from us, slowed down, while her consorts rapidly overhauled her. It was not long before they had all come into line and anxiously we awaited their next move. Meantime I was in complete doubt what to do. If these were European vessels, or cruisers escaped from our country, it was my duty to hoist flags, fire guns, and do all in my power to attract their attention. If on the other hand they were the mis-begotten offspring of our American ports it was a matter of importance by every means to conceal our whereabouts. While in this undecided frame of mind I saw them change their course and bear away to the South. They were evidently leaving us. When the crowd observed that they were getting farther away a long low groan told us that our people looked upon them as saviours, not enemies; and struck with the idea that I might be casting away our one chance of communication with the outer world, I gave orders