‘For God’s sake, keep going,’ he said breathlessly, seizing her by the arm and dragging her along, as another shot sounded loud in her ears. ‘He has to reload.’ ‘Fire, damn you!’ She heard Mark’s voice screaming at his companions. ‘Don’t let them get away.’ Bullets kicked up the sand behind them as she struggled through the water towards the boat with Adam behind her. She felt herself being dragged across the side with her petticoats up round her waist, as the men in the boat reached out to haul her inboard. There were more shots as they turned from her to grab Adam by his coat and pull him in beside her, where he landed in a heap at her feet. The crew left their passengers to fend for themselves while they set about pushing the boat off the sand and floating it. Only when she felt the jar as the craft lifted on the surge of the outgoing tide and saw the sails begin to fill did she allow herself a peep over the side. It was broad day now and she could see Mark and the two men standing on the beach, up to their knees in water, trying to reload their weapons before their quarry sailed out of range.
