nd had lowered a boat. When three or four men from this boat had
scrambled to the deck of the _Dunkery Beacon_, they were gladly welcomed
by the black-headed fellow who had passed himself off as Captain Hagar,
and a most animated conversation now took place. Shirley could not
understand anything that was said, and he had sense enough not to appear
to be trying to do so; but no one paid any attention to him, nor seemed
to care whether he knew what was going on or not.

At first the manner of the speakers indicated that they were wildly
congratulating each other, but very soon it was evident that the _Summer
Shelter_ was the subject of their discourse. They all looked over at the
yacht, some of them even shook their fists at her, and although Shirley
did not understand their language, he knew very well that curses, loud
and savage, were pouring over the bulwarks in the direction of his
friends and their yacht.

Then the subject of the conference changed. The fellows began to gaze
northward, a glass was turned in that direction, the exclamations became
more violent than before, and when Shirley turned, he saw for the first
time the other vessel which was coming down from the north. This was now
far away, but she was heading south, and it could not be long before she
would arrive on the scene.

Now Shirley's heart sank about as far down as it would go. He had no
doubt that this very vessel was another of the pirates. If she carried a
gun, even if it were not a heavy one, he might as well bid good-bye to
the _Summer Shelter_. The pirates would not allow her to go to any port
to tell her tale.

The noisy conference now broke up. The boat with its crew returned to
the other vessel, which almost immediately started, turned, and steamed
away to the north, in the direction of the approaching steamer. This
settled the matter. She was off to join her pirate consort. Now the
_Dunkery Beacon_ started her engines, and steamed slowly in the
direction of the yacht, as if she wished to hail her. Shirley's heart
rose a little. If there was to be a parley, perhaps the pirates had
decided to warn the yacht to stop meddling, and to take herself away,
and if, by any happy fortune, it should be decided to send him to his
friends, he would implore them, with all his heart and soul, to take the
advice without the loss of a second.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE PEOPLE ON THE "MONTEREY"

The vessel which had last appeared upon the scene and