midnight
The strong desire which Dillon entertained to intercept , or rather to destroy , the party , rendered him prompt at expedients . After a moment of musing , he replied : `` The runaways must yet be on the land ; and by scouring the coast , and posting men at proper intervals , their retreat can easily be prevented ; in the mean time I will ride under the spur to -- bay , where one of his majesty 's cutters now lies at anchor . It is but half an hour of hard riding , and I can be on board of her . The wind blows directly in her favor ; and if we can once bring her down behind that headland , we shall infallibly cut off or sink these midnight depredators . '' `` Off , then ! '' cried the cornet , whose young blood was boiling for a skirmish ; `` you will at least drive them to the shore , where I can deal with them . '' The words were hardly uttered , before Dillon , after galloping furiously along the cliffs , and turning short into a thick wood that lay in his route , was out of sight .