twenty-five minutes to nine
Probably , too , it was in the open Atlantic , and not sheltering in any of the innumerable inlets of the western coast . He steered due west , noticing as he did so that the pursuers were still doggedly on his trail , and had gained considerably while he had been investigating the harbour . He looked at his watch . It was twenty-five minutes to nine . He would reach his ship in time if it were not more than eighty-five miles distant , supposing that it was going in the same direction , or perhaps a hundred and ten if it were coming towards him . Rising to the height of 4,000 feet , he searched the sea in all directions through his binocular . He noticed with amusement that one of the pursuing aeroplanes had come down on Mizzen Head ; the other was still labouring after him .