The hull and lower masts of the vessel could be indistinctly made out, and that was all.

Sampson informed him that he had not been using all the steam he had, and that the screw was hardly turning at all.

He ordered him to stop it entirely.
Impatient as he was to follow up the discovery that had been made, he realized that it would be very imprudent to expose his ship to possible danger when he had not steam enough to work her to the best advantage.
He could only wait; but he was satisfied that he had done the best possible thing in changing the coal, for the black smoke would effectually blind the officers of the other vessel.

They were not engaged in a chase, and the exciting question could be settled a few hours hence as well as at the present time.
"If the steamer ahead is the Scotian or the Arran, as I fully believe she is, probably her consort is somewhere in these waters," said the commander.
"Probably she lost sight of her in this fog," added Flint.

"But, Captain Passford, we are in the face of something, though we do not yet know precisely what.