should happen to pass us in the fog without our seeing him, he knows
the Sylvania will put into Key West. If he gets back to Jacksonville,
and finds that you have left in our steamer, he will return at once,
and find us at our anchorage in port."

"When shall you reach Key West, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel.

"If we have good weather, it is a run of from forty-two to forty-five
hours. If this fog continues, it will take longer than that, for the
navigation is not all plain sailing," I replied.

"And you think you can overtake the Islander in about eight hours?"

"I think so, sir; but I can't say that we shall come near enough to see
or hear her in this fog," I answered. "I think you had better make your
party comfortable on board of the Sylvania, and leave the rest of the
matter to me and my officers."

"I am confident that is the better way for you; and I am sure Alick
will do all he can both to make you and your family comfortable in the
cabin, and to find your runaway vessel," added my father.

Colonel Shepard yielded to this advice, and I went down into the
after-cabin with all the passengers to arrange about the staterooms and
berths. Our involuntary guests declared that they were very sorry to
make so much trouble, and especially to disturb our arrangements on
board. Both my father and I assured them they made no trouble, and that
we were not at all disturbed by their presence, inasmuch as we had
invited them to take the cruise in the Sylvania, and were glad to have
them on board.

I had made a diagram of the cabin, and assigned rooms and berths to all
the passengers, when I supposed they were to sail with us. I proceeded
to arrange our guests in accordance with this plan.

"Let me have a berth in the fore-cabin, Alick," said Owen to me in a
whisper.

"There is no need of that, Owen," I replied. "There is room enough for
all of you in this cabin, and some to spare. Colonel and Mrs. Shepard
will occupy the port stateroom, as before, when they have sailed with
us," I continued, consulting my diagram.

The colonel protested that he would not occupy the best stateroom; but
I insisted, and went on giving out the apartments.

"Miss Edith and Miss Margie will take the starboard stateroom."

Both of them screamed with delight at this disposition of them, and
Margie declared that I was a "dear, good little Captain Alick," though
I was bigger in stature than her father. I had given the two larger
rooms t