r sail. Ask Mr.
Berwick to bank the fires in the boiler."

It was now dusk. The stars were showing in the sky, and the lights of
the Sea Eagle were lost in the mist on the horizon.

For awhile the voyagers sat around on the deck listening to the
professor's stories of his experiences in the South Seas, but it had
been a long and arduous day and they soon began to grow weary.

"I think," began Tom, in a pause in the talk, suppressing a yawn. "I
think I shall turn in until time for my watch." It had been arranged
that some one of the four should always be on deck.

"A very sensible idea," agreed the professor; "I think we will all be
better for a good night's rest."

Without incident of note, all through the night the Storm King sped on
her way south.

The party were all on deck early the next morning. It seemed on looking
around that they were alone on the wide sweep of water. Way off to the
west the sails of a vessel showed white like the wings of a bird on the
horizon, and far away to the north was a blur from the smoke of a
steamer.

It was well along in the morning when the bold headline of the cliff
that marked the entrance to San Matteo Bay came into view, and it was
middle afternoon when the yacht glided into the bay and sought an
anchorage.

"Broome," said the captain, "knows this harbor as he knows his cabin,
but I am not familiar with any part except that near the entrance. It's
full of rocks farther in, and I will anchor under the lea of these
northern cliffs where I know there is sufficient depth of water."

The harbor covered an area of several square miles, and there was to be
seen only one other vessel, a small lugger which lay close to the lower
end of the bay.

"Well," remarked Berwick, looking about the harbor. "Our piratical
friend Broome doesn't seem to have kept the appointment you made for
him, Jim."

"Not yet," replied Jim, "but there is still time enough."

"And you still hold to the opinion this is the place?" asked the
professor.

"I may be mistaken," replied Jim, "but I don't believe I am. In any case
the morning will determine. I am for going ashore then, and will
investigate."

Watches were set for the night, and for each interval of two hours one
of the boys was on duty. Tom was on deck during the darkest period
between two and four, and shortly before the latter hour he noted at a
distance, although he could not see the ship, the noise of machinery,
and felt sure that a