Jo. "We will do our best to take care of it."

"I know that," said the professor.

Jo and Tom spent the morning going over the yacht getting acquainted
with its equipment and with the crew. The latter were mostly Hawaiians
with one Irishman, an Englishman and the Mexican steward. Juarez was
busy down in the engine room with Berwick, and Jim and the professor
were in consultation in the cabin over their plans to outwit Broome.

"The Marjorie of Liverpool," remarked Tom. The speaker was standing on
the after deck studying the vessels in the harbor. He read the name he
spoke through a pair of binoculars. It was a small steamship anchored
not far from the Storm King. They had passed it early in the morning on
their way to the yacht, but he had not noticed it particularly until
now.

"I wonder where she came from, and where she is going?" went on Tom.

"From Liverpool, I suppose," replied Jim, who had joined them, "and
quite likely she is going back again."

"Wonder how she got way out here?" continued Tom.

"You are full of wonder to-day," laughed Jim. "Steamships go anywhere
and everywhere. Here comes the captain. We can ask him."

"What is it you want to know?" inquired the captain, who had overheard
Jim's remark.

"We were just talking about that steamship there, the Marjorie, and
speculating as to what she is and what she's doing here."

"It's pretty hard to tell that," replied the captain, after taking a
look through the glasses. "She's English built and rigged, that's
certain, but I don't know what she's doing so far from her home port."

"She has good lines and looks as though she might have speed,"
criticized Jim.

"Ay, ay, lad, ye're right there," agreed the captain. "She looks like a
cross between a yacht and a trader. I suspect that is what she is, a
trader."

"She seems to have a big crew for a trader," said Jim, who had been
studying the vessel while talking. "And she looks as though she might
carry a pretty heavy armament, too."

"Have you noticed that?" observed the captain. "Ye have a good eye, lad,
and a quick mind. I was just thinking the same thing myself. I wouldn't
wonder if she was doing some contraband trade down the coast. I see she
is going out, soon."

"How do you know?" asked Jo.

"She is getting steam up."

"So is the Sea Eagle," exclaimed Tom. "They have started their fires.
She must be going out, too."

"Looks like it," put in Jo. "There is Broome now, with some of his me