aid Burke, "something of the sort. I don't mind saying that to
you."

"And I will also say to you," replied the young clergyman, "that we
talked it over last night, and we all agreed that the actions of the
_Dunkery Beacon_ are very suspicious. It does not seem at all unlikely
that the great treasure she carries has been too much of a temptation
for the Captain, and that she is trying to get away with it."

"Of course, I don't know anything about that Captain," said Burke, "or
what he is after, but I'm pretty sure that he won't dare to do anything
to Shirley as long as I keep him in sight. And now I'm going to bear
down on him again to hail him!"

The _Summer Shelter_ bore down upon the other steamer, and her Captain
hailed and hailed for half an hour, but no answer came from the _Dunkery
Beacon_.

Willy Croup was so troubled by what had happened, and even more by what
was not happening,--for she could not see any good which might come out
of this persistent following of the one vessel by the other,--that her
nerves disordered and tangled themselves to such a degree that she was
scarcely able to cook.

But Mrs. Cliff kept up a strong heart. She felt that a great deal
depended upon her. At any moment an emergency might arise when she would
be called upon, as owner of the yacht, to decide what should be done.
She hoped very earnestly that if the Captain of the _Dunkery Beacon_ saw
that the _Summer Shelter_ was determined to follow him wherever he went,
and whatever he might do, he would at last get tired of being nagged in
that way, and consent to give up Mr. Shirley.

About eight o'clock in the morning, all belief in the minds of the men
on board the yacht that the _Dunkery Beacon_ intended to sail to Rio
Janeiro entirely disappeared, for that steamer changed her course to one
considerably north of east. A little after that a steamer was seen on
the horizon to the north, and she was bearing southward. In the course
of half an hour it seemed as if this new steamer was not only likely to
run across the course of the _Dunkery Beacon_, but was trying to do it.

"Captain," exclaimed Mrs. Cliff, grasping Burke by the arm, "don't you
think it looks very much as if that Captain Hagar was trying to run away
with the treasure which has been entrusted to him?"

"I didn't intend to say anything to you about that," he replied, "but it
looks like it most decidedly!"

"If that should be the case," said Mrs. Cliff, "don't you