At the end of a couple of hours more she seemed to be within a mile, or perhaps less.

The Yazoo was shaking in every fibre of her steel body, and it was plain that Captain Carboneer was straining her to the utmost to effect his escape.
"It is beginning to warm up a little," said Beeks, as he tried to look out at one of the round ports of the wardroom.
"It will be hotter than this before we see the end of it," replied Christy.

"Can you see anything ?" "Not a thing; of course the Bellevite is astern of us," added Beeks.
"But the Yazoo is not using her guns." "How can she?
She has not fired a shot for some time, and she cannot without coming to.

I should say she might as well do one thing as another.

She can't run away from the Bellevite, and she may as well take her chances in a fight as a run." "But the Bellevite does not seem to be handling her great gun at a very lively rate," suggested Beeks.
"I suppose Captain Breaker wants to save all he can of the Yazoo, and he knows that he can knock her all to pieces when he decides that it is necessary." "What is all that racket on deck ?" asked Beeks.
"Probably they are getting a couple of stern chasers ready for use," answered Christy; and this explanation was soon proved to be correct by the report of a gun at the stern of the Yazoo.
For the next half-hour, the firing from the Bellevite was more rapid, and several crashes, produced by the striking of shot, were heard.