Why did you sail without your husband, Mrs. Vincent?" asked Levi.

"I don't know anything about this business. I hadn't anything to do
with it," replied the poor woman; and Levi and Bessie pitied her
because she was the wife of such a bad man.

"I am sure she had nothing to do with carrying me off, Levi,"
interposed Bessie. "She has been very kind to me from the moment I went
on board of the Caribbee, and would have assisted me to escape, if
there had been any chance."

"I am very glad indeed to know that," added Levi. "I don't see why this
Captain Gauley sailed without your husband."

"Captain Vincent sent a letter to him, saying that things were going
wrong with him, and ordered him to sail at once."

Levi wondered how Dock had sent the letter. When told that it was
written in pencil, and that the address on the envelope was not in her
husband's hand, he was satisfied that Constable Cooke had rendered him
this important service.

"My husband was to come to Australia by the steamer from England,"
added Mrs. Vincent. "Perhaps he is here now."

"I think not," replied Levi.

"Why so?"

"Because he was arrested, and committed to jail before I left the Cape.
Augustus caught him."

"I had that honor," said the steward, who was standing near the party;
and the incident was fully described.

"I suppose my poor father and mother do not know what has become of
me," continued Bessie, the tears starting to her eyes.

"Yes, they do. I sent two letters by a ship we spoke. If this vessel
reached New York, I am sure he knows where you are. I wrote him that I
should follow you round the world, if need be."

"How brave and noble you are, Levi!" she said, bestowing a glance of
admiration upon him. "And this Starry Flag has rendered me a greater
service than the other Starry Flag."

"She has indeed! She is the finest little craft that ever floated; and
I shall love her as long as I live. In that great gale a week ago, she
was under water half the time, I believe. We had to batten down
everything, and lash ourselves to the deck."

"That was a fearful storm. I hope I shall never see another such. How
grateful we ought to be for our preservation!"

"I trust we are grateful to God for his goodness and his mercy,"
replied Levi, devoutly.

On the following day the yacht took a pilot, and came to anchor in the
harbor of Melbourne. Mat Mogmore had kept out of sight since he came on
board, spending all his time in the forecas