Знак чотирьох
X. The End of the Islander
Witheverythroboftheengineswesprangandquiveredlikealivingthing.Onegreatyellowlanterninourbowsthrewalong,flickeringfunneloflightinfrontofus.RightaheadadarkbluruponthewatershowedwheretheAuroralay,andtheswirlofwhitefoambehindherspokeofthepaceatwhichshewasgoing.Weflashedpastbarges,steamers,merchant-vessels,inandout,behindthisoneandroundtheother.Voiceshailedusoutofthedarkness,butstilltheAurorathunderedon,andstillwefollowedcloseuponhertrack.
“Pileiton,men,pileiton!”criedHolmes,lookingdownintotheengine-room,whilethefierceglowfrombelowbeatuponhiseager,aquilineface.“Geteverypoundofsteamyoucan.”
“Ithinkwegainalittle,”saidJones,withhiseyesontheAurora.
“Iamsureofit,”saidI.“Weshallbeupwithherinaveryfewminutes.”
Atthatmoment,however,asourevilfatewouldhaveit,atugwiththreebargesintowblunderedinbetweenus.Itwasonlybyputtingourhelmharddownthatweavoidedacollision,andbeforewecouldroundthemandrecoverourwaytheAurorahadgainedagoodtwohundredyards.Shewasstill,however,wellinview,andthemurkyuncertaintwilightwassettingintoaclearstarlitnight.Ourboilerswerestrainedtotheirutmost,andthefrailshellvibratedandcreakedwiththefierceenergywhichwasdrivingusalong.WehadshotthroughthePool,pasttheWestIndiaDocks,downthelongDeptfordReach,andupagainafterroundingtheIsleofDogs.ThedullblurinfrontofusresolveditselfnowclearlyenoughintothedaintyAurora.
