The propeller began to turn, and the ship gathered headway.

To add to the responsibility of the young commander, his mother and sister had just come on board, and were now seated on the sofa in the engine-room.
The Bellevite was moving down the river, and the only thing Christy could do was to brace himself up to meet whatever might happen on the trip.

He did this at once, and a moment later he rang to go ahead at full speed.

He was approaching the bend of the river, and in a minute or two more he would be able to see the Vampire.

But Captain Carboneer could no more see through the headland at the bend than he could, and he hoped that the leader of the enemy had not yet discovered that the Bellevite was under way.
The steamer increased her speed on the instant in response to the signal, and she rushed forward at a velocity that would be fatal to the Vampire if she happened to be in her path.