rever you came from.

"CAPTAIN HAGAR."

Captain Burke had hardly finished reading this extraordinary letter when
he heard a cry from the boat lying by the side of the yacht in which
the three men were waiting, expecting to go back to the other vessel
with an answer. "Hello!" cried Mr. Burdette. "She's getting under way!
That steamer's off!"

And at this a shout arose from everybody on board the _Summer Shelter_.
The propeller of the _Dunkery Beacon_ was stirring the water at her
stern, and she was moving away, her bow turned southward. Burke leaned
over the rail, shouted to his men to get on board and haul up the boat,
and then he gave orders to go ahead full speed.

"What does all this mean?" cried Mrs. Cliff. "What's in that letter, Mr.
Burke? Are they running away with Mr. Shirley?"

"That's what it looks like!" he cried. "But here's the letter. You can
all read it for yourselves!" and with that he dashed away to take charge
of his vessel.

All now was wild excitement on board the _Summer Shelter_, but what was
to be done or with what intention they were pursuing the _Dunkery
Beacon_ and rapidly gaining upon her, no one could say, not even Captain
Burke himself. The yacht was keeping on the weather quarter of the other
vessel, and when she was near enough, he began again to yell at her
through his speaking-trumpet, but no answer or signal came back, and
everybody on board the larger vessel seemed to be attending to his
duties as if nothing had happened, while Mr. Shirley was not visible.

While the Captain was roaring himself red in the face, both Mrs. Cliff
and Willy Croup were crying, and the face of each clergyman showed
great anxiety and trouble. Presently Mrs. Cliff was approached by the
Reverend Mr. Arbuckle, the oldest of the members of the late Synod who
had shipped with her.

"This is a most unfortunate and totally unexpected outcome of our
expedition," said he. "If Mr. Shirley is taken to Rio Janeiro and
charges made against him, his case may be very serious. But I cannot see
what we are to do! Don't you believe it would be well to call a
consultation of those on board?"

Mrs. Cliff wiped her eyes, and said they ought to consult. If anything
could be done, it should be done immediately.

Captain Burke put the yacht in charge of the mate, and came aft where
five of the clergymen, the sailing-master, and Mrs. Cliff and Willy were
gathered together. "I'm willing to hold council," said he, "b