wrong course! It won't take us long to
overhaul her. We'll head the yacht a few points to the east. Don't say
anything to anybody,--we don't want to disappoint them."

"Oh, we can overhaul her," said Shirley, who now had the glass, "for it
isn't a stern chase by any means."

In less than half an hour everybody on board the _Summer Shelter_ knew
that the large steamer, which they could plainly see on the rolling
waves to the south, must be the _Dunkery Beacon_, unless, indeed, they
should find that this was one of her sister ships coming north. There
was great excitement on board the yacht. The breakfast, which was in
course of preparation, was almost entirely forgotten by those who had it
in charge, and everybody who could possibly leave duty crowded to the
rail, peering across the waves to the southward. It was not long before
Shirley, who had the best eyes on board, declared that he could read
with his glass the name _Dunkery Beacon_ on the port bow.

"That's not where we ought to see it," cried Burke; "we ought to see it
on the stern! But we've got her, boys!"--and then he remembered himself,
and added,--"ladies; and now let's give three good cheers!"

Three rousing cheers were given by all on board with such good-will that
they would have been heard on the other steamer had not the wind been
pretty strong from the west.

The _Summer Shelter_ gained upon the larger vessel, and Burke now ran up
signals for her to lay to, as he wished to speak with her. To these
signals, however, the _Dunkery_ paid no immediate attention, keeping
steadily on, although altering her course towards the south-east.

"What does that mean, Mr. Shirley?" asked Mrs. Cliff. "Mr. Burke wants
her to stop, doesn't he?"

"Yes," said Shirley, "that is what the signal is for."

"But she doesn't stop!" said Mrs. Cliff. "Do you think there is any
chance of her not stopping at all?"

"Can't say, madam," he answered. "But she's got good reason for keeping
on her way; a vessel with all that treasure on board could hardly be
expected to lay to because a strange vessel that she knows nothing about
asked her to shut off steam."

"That seems to me very reasonable, indeed," said Mr. Litchfield, who was
standing by. "But it would be very bad fortune, if, after all the
trouble and anxiety you have had in overtaking this vessel, she should
decline to stop and hear the news we have to tell."

There was a strong breeze and a good deal of sea, but Burke