with him on the _Antonina_ from New
York! What a fool he had been not to think sooner of the
post-office--but what difference would it have made? What could he have
done that he had not done? If the Captain sailed in a few days from the
time he sent the message, he would be here very soon, for the distance
between Kingston and Vera Cruz was less than that from New York. The
Captain must have counted on Shirley reaching Jamaica very much sooner
than he really did arrive. Puzzled, annoyed, and disgusted with himself,
Shirley explained the message to his companions, and they all hastened
back to the yacht. There a brief but very hurried consultation was held,
in which nearly everybody joined. The question to be decided was,
should they wait for Captain Horn?

A great deal was said in a very short time, and in the midst of the
confused opinions, Mrs. Cliff spoke out, loudly and clearly. "It is my
opinion," said she, "that we should not stop. If fitting out a steamer
is like fitting out anything else in this world that I know of, it is
almost certain to take more time than people expect it to take. If
Captain Horn telegraphed to us this minute, I believe he would tell us
to go after that ship with the gold on board, just as fast as we can,
and tell them to turn back."

This speech was received with favor by all who heard it, and without a
word in answer to Mrs. Cliff, Captain Burke told Mr. Burdette that they
would clear for a cruise and get away just as soon as they could do it.

When the yacht had been made ready to start, the two clergymen descended
into the boat, which was waiting alongside, and the _Summer Shelter_
steamed out of the harbor of Kingston, and headed away for Tobago
Island.

CHAPTER XXV

A NOTE FOR CAPTAIN BURKE

Notwithstanding the fact that the _Summer Shelter_ made very good time,
that she had coaled at Nassau, and was therefore ready for an extended
cruise, it was impossible for any of those on board of her to conceal
from themselves the very strong improbability of sighting the _Dunkery
Beacon_ after she had got out upon the wide Atlantic, and that she would
pass the comparatively narrow channel south of Tobago Island before the
yacht reached it, was almost a foregone conclusion.

Mr. Burke assured Mrs. Cliff and his passengers that although their
chase after the steamer might reasonably suggest a needle and a
haystack, still, if the _Dunkery Beacon_ kept down the coast in as
straigh