He moved cautiously to her side expecting to catch hold of her rudder chain.

He saw one-hundred-thousand dollars in his grasp.

Now, he thought, "one of the most powerful enemies of Peru will be put beyond doing damage." When he was about midship and was preparing to reach for her chain, the steersman's bell rang a signal to the engineer, her wheel began to revolve and she slipped by him out of danger, of which those on board were unconscious.

Paul was terribly discomfited at the result of that attempt which was so near being successful.

He left the torpedo floating on the sea and struck out to reach shore before daylight discovered him, knowing that it would be impossible to gain the sloop.
The next move of the torpedo men was to sail to all the outside islands, which are literally alive with seals and sea lions.