mate. The visitors were Vandersee's, and that
able officer turned the circumstance to good use. Politely, yet
insistently, he drew Mrs. Goring to the gangway; she in turn called Miss
Sheldon, and before Barry could prevent their going, they had stepped
ashore and departed in different directions.

As they separated, Mrs. Goring spoke to the girl and then hurried away
with a cordial hand-wave and a very softened smile. The girl stared
after her for a moment, as if not understanding that which she said,
then slowly turned to follow her own path. But in turning, she paused
almost imperceptibly to flash another look at the ship; and Barry caught
it, levelled full at himself.

Wonder, doubt, unbelief were in that look. The pretty round chin was
firm and hard, and in the expressive eyes the light was shot with specks
of flinty coldness. But doubt predominated. Miss Sheldon resumed her
way, and as if in final endeavor to learn the answer to a puzzling
question, she looked back over her shoulder at Mrs. Goring. That lady,
too, looked back at that instant, and again Barry caught a flashed
message.

Mrs. Goring's face was alight with emotions--gratification, love,
hope--and the greatest of these was hope.

CHAPTER SIX

Little overhauled his instructions from Houten early next morning and by
breakfast time was ready to get down to business with Barry. The day
dawned muggy and windless; one of the native seamen in a commandeered
canoe paddled up from his observation point near the river mouth to
report and get his relief. There was no sign of Leyden's schooner, nor
did the day promise a wind that could possibly bring her in.

The mate left the table early and relieved Vandersee, who went into his
cabin before sitting down, leaving Barry and Little alone for a moment.

"What d 'ye think of Mrs. Goring, and--oh, everything, old scout,"
Little began. "You saw her face last night. Is she stuck on you, or me,
think? Or why the interchange of cryptic eyes between her and little
Miss Mission?"

"Drop the josh, Little," Barry retorted, none too well pleased at the
subject. "How in blazes can she be stuck on either of us, when we only
saw her once before yesterday? As for cryptic glances, I'm not very good
at puzzles."

"Oh, all right, sobersides. But have you figured out how the lady got
here, and why?"

"No. I don't propose to clutter my head with stuff that does not
concern my business here, Little. We're here to che