laugh. "I shall not drown myself for the sake of drowning you, I am
very sure. Mr. Washburn!"

"On deck, sir."

"Set the fore to'gallant sail."

"Ay, ay, sir," chuckled the mate, who understood that I meant business
by this time.

"Pray, which is the fore top-gallant sail, Captain Alick?" asked Miss
Margie.

"It is the highest sail we set on the foremast, though larger vessels
have a royal above that, then a skysail," I replied. "Mr. Washburn!"

"On deck, sir."

"Now give us the fore squaresail, and run up the jib."

The last order was to set the main gaff-topsail; and then we had all
sail on. We turned the bend of the river just after the last sail had
been set, which gave us the wind over the starboard quarter. I was
confident we were making twelve knots an hour, and the skilful firing
of Philander Perkins soon made her do even better than this. The water
fairly roared at the bow as the vessel cut through it. The young ladies
in the pilot-house ceased to talk, and Miss Margie held on at the wheel
with both hands. It was lively sailing, but there was no danger, and I
told the fair maiden so many times.

[Illustration: "Then we had all sail on." _Page 78._]

We all kept a sharp lookout for the Islander, but as yet we saw nothing
of her. She had, at least, ten miles the start of us, and it was likely
to be a long chase, if she continued on her course. I wanted very much
to get a sight of her when we reached the bar at the mouth of the St.
Johns, so as to determine what course she took.

No progress whatever had been made in solving the problem of the
Islander's sudden departure without her owner and passengers. We could
not imagine any motive on the part of her captain for his singular
conduct. My father and Colonel Shepard talked about the matter all the
time; but in the absence of any data they could not get ahead a
particle.

In an hour and a half by the watch we were in sight of the bar. The
weather looked thick and nasty outside, and there was not the slightest
sign of the Islander. But we were still in the river, and our view to
the north and south was obstructed by the trees and shrubs on the
shores. It was plain enough to me by this time that Captain Blastblow
had no intention of returning to Jacksonville for his passengers.

I kept the Sylvania on her course over the bar, and, as it was full
tide, I had no fear of taking the bottom. We kept on our course till we
had made a good offing. Though th