she got up her
anchor; and there she is, three or four miles on her way to the ocean."

"Sylvania, ahoy!" shouted some one on the shore.

On the pier, near the club-house, were the Shepard party; and it was
the colonel who had hailed us. They seemed to be quite as much
astonished as we were. I ran the steamer up to the wharf.

CHAPTER VI.

A LIVELY CHASE.

In a few minutes our bow and stern lines were fast to the wharf where
the Shepards were waiting for their steam-yacht. Owen leaped ashore
before the vessel was fairly alongside, though he had not yet come to a
full comprehension of what had happened. He knew something was the
matter, but he could not tell what it was.

As soon as the Sylvania was made fast I went on shore. Colonel Shepard
seemed to be bewildered, for Owen had just told him the Islander had
gone down the river. The rest of the family were quite as much
astonished as the husband and father. Chloe, the colored servant, was
actually wringing her hands, as though she feared another conspiracy
was about to be developed.

"Where is the Islander, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel, as I
presented myself before him.

"She has gone down the river; and the last I saw of her, she was
shaking out her fore-topsail," I replied.

"But what does that mean?" added Colonel Shepard, with a frown.

"I'm sure I don't know, sir. She got under way about half-past six. I
supposed Captain Blastblow was about to take a turn or two in her
before he ran up to the wharf. It is now quarter-past seven, and the
Islander is still making her way down the river. You can see her across
the land, though only her spars are in sight."

I pointed out the tapering masts of our consort--if she was to be our
consort--in the distance. Presently she disappeared behind a forest of
pine.

"I don't understand it at all," said the perplexed owner of the stray
yacht. "What does Captain Blastblow mean by treating me in this manner,
when I ordered him to be at this wharf precisely at seven?"

"I can't explain it, sir," I replied. "There is clearly some
misunderstanding about the matter."

"You saw me write the card at the post-office last night, Captain
Alick: and I sent it off by the young man who was with you."

"Yes, sir; Nick Boomsby took the card; and I have no doubt he delivered
it, for he came on board of the Sylvania towards night.

"I think Captain Blastblow intends to return soon," I added, for I
could not think of