He did not think the boat itself could be seen, as they were some eight or nine miles from the land.

They rowed for a quarter of an hour, when Vincent saw the white sails of a ship coming out from the entrance.
The breeze was so light that she would, he thought, be nearly three hours before she reached the spot where they were now, and whether she headed to the right or left of it he would have plenty of time to cut her off.

For another two hours he and Dan rowed steadily.

The wind had freshened a good deal, and the ship was now coming up fast to them.

Two others had come out after her, but were some miles astern.