30' W. Long. by 17 deg. 45' N. Lat., so that they had Jamaica
on their larboard beam some thirty miles to westward, and, indeed,
away to the northwest, faintly visible as a bank of clouds, appeared
the great ridge of the Blue Mountains whose peaks were thrust into
the clear upper air above the low-lying haze. The wind, to which
they were sailing very close, was westerly, and it bore to their ears
a booming sound which in less experienced ears might have passed for
the breaking of surf upon a lee shore.
"Guns!" said Pitt, who stood with Blood upon the quarter-deck.
Blood nodded, listening.
"Ten miles away, perhaps fifteen - somewhere off Port Royal, I should
judge," Pitt added. Then he looked at his captain. "Does it concern
us?" he asked.
"Guns off Port Royal... that should argue Colonel Bishop at work.
And against whom should he be in action but against friends of ours
I think it may concern us. Anyway, we'll stand in to investigate.
Bid them put the helm over."
Close-hauled they tacked aweather, guided by the sound of combat,
which grew in volume and definition as they approached it.
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