Terence watched the operation carefully.

The wind was nearly due aft, and the boat ran rapidly through the water.
"We are just right as to time," Jules said, as he looked back where the river made a bend.

"There are two others coming down half a mile behind us, so that we shall only seem to be rather earlier birds than the rest." Near the mouth of the river two gunboats were anchored.

They passed within a short distance of one of these, and a solitary sailor, keeping anchor watch on deck, remarked: "You are going to have a fine day for your fishing, comrade." "Yes, I think so, but maybe there will be more wind presently." Some time before reaching the gunboat, Ryan had lain down and the nets were thrown loosely over him, as it would be better that there should not seem to be more than the two hands that were generally carried in the small fishing boats.

Once out of the river they steered south, laying a course parallel to the shore and about a mile out.