In another hour they were near enough to recognize in it the unmistakable outlines of the _Clarion_.  To all appearances their rivals had also observed them, and were crowding on power, for now they gained much slower.  Yet they still continued to narrow the breach between them, steadily, rod by rod, and minute by minute.  They could see that the _Clarion_ was not well handled, for she wavered in her flight considerably.