Neither Steve nor Wink had a chance to reply until it was too late for their shots to be effective.

By that time the two cruisers had straightened out on the course and the chase had begun.
Harry Corwin was entrusted with Steve's revolver and, standing on the dining table set from locker to locker across the galley, he could thrust head and shoulders through the hatch.

But the cockpit of the _Follow Me_ remained empty and the entrance to the cabin was closed.
Wink, his revolver ready, had returned to his post and watched grimly while the _Adventurer_, her engine fairly humming, slowly wore down the distance that separated her from the enemy.
"They're certainly getting some speed out of her," called Wink admiringly.

The rest of the company had returned to the bridge and were watching eagerly.

Tom Corwin, who had remained unaffected by the potting of the _Follow Me's_ hull, was fighting mad now because the thieves had lost the bow anchor, and sputtered wrathfully as he gazed over Steve's shoulder.