the strain on the
hawser dragged the launch's stern down, but she came round and the
tension slackened as he steered up the channel.

For a time he had less trouble than he expected; but the channel turned
at its outer end and wind and swell would strike at him at an awkward
angle, when he took the bend. As he entered it, the moon shone out, and
he saw the black top of a rock dangerously close to leeward. He waved the
lantern, but the lighter, with sea and current on her weather bow, forged
almost straight ahead, and the straining hawser dragged the launch back.
Reaching forward, Dick opened the throttle valve to its limit, and then
sat grim and still while the throb of the screw shook the trembling hull.
Something would happen in the next half minute unless he could get the
lighter round. Glancing back, he saw her low, wet side shine in the
moonlight. Two dark figures stood aft by the tiller, and he thought the
foam about the rock was only a fathom or two away.

The launch was hove down on her side. Though the screw thudded furiously,
she seemed to gain no ground, and then the strain on the hawser suddenly
slackened. Dick wondered whether it had broken, but he would know in the
next few seconds; there was a sharp jerk, the launch was dragged to
leeward, but recovered and forged ahead. She plunged her bows into a
broken swell and the spray filled Dick's eyes, but when he could see
again the foam was sliding past and a gap widened between the lighter's
hull and the white wash on the rock.

The water was deep ahead, and since he could skirt the beach and the wind
came strongly off the land, the worst of his difficulties seemed to be
past. Still, it would be a long tow to Santa Brigida, and bracing himself
for the work, he lit his pipe.

CHAPTER XV

THE MISSING COAL

Early next morning Dick stood in front of the Hotel Magellan, where he
had slept for a few hours after his return, and was somewhat surprised to
see that Jake had got up before him and was talking to a pretty,
dark-skinned girl. She carried a large bunch of flowers and a basket of
fruit stood close by, while Jake seemed to be persuading her to part with
some.

Dick stopped and watched them, for the glow of color held his eye. Jake's
white duck caught the strong sunlight, while the girl's dark hair and
eyes were relieved by the brilliant lemon-tinted wall and the mass of
crimson bloom. Her attitude was coquettish, and Jake regarded her with an