d proclaim that the boat's
propeller was working; but, save for a very slight momentary disturbance
of the scummy surface, there was no result, and presently a very excited
individual was seen to emerge from the boat's engine-room hatch and rush
up on to the bridge, where he instantly plunged into a violently
gesticulatory conversation with the other occupant of the structure.
Then the pair left the bridge, hurried aft, and disappeared below.
Meanwhile the boat was adrift, and presently, under the influence of the
fast-freshening breeze, she drove athwart-hawse of a slashing American
schooner, the stout bowsprit of which neatly brought the boat's funnel
down on deck, to the accompaniment of a storm of abuse and imprecations
from the American skipper and mate. Then, swinging round and gathering
sternway, the boat drifted clear, losing her mast also in the process,
after which, somebody on board having recovered his presence of mind,
her anchor was let go again, and she swung to the wind.

That this interesting little incident had not passed unnoticed was
presently made manifest by the excited flourishings and gesticulations
of the semaphore upon the bridge of the cruiser, to which the torpedo
boat's semaphore duly made reply. Then a boat was lowered from the
latter craft, and two officers--presumably her commander and her chief
engineer--jumped into her stern-sheets and were pulled toward the
cruiser. Some ten minutes later the same boat pushed off again and
returned to her parent craft, while the semaphore on board the cruiser
once more awakened into frenzied activity, its message being this time
addressed to the gunboat, as could be deduced from the answering
nourishes of that vessel's instrument. The conversation lasted for
quite a considerable time; and long ere it was at an end dense clouds of
black smoke were pouring out of the funnel of Jack's old friend, the
_Tiburon_.

Now, although all these happenings were being watched with the most
absorbing interest from the top of the _Thetis's_ deck-house, it must
not be supposed that the watching was conducted in an obtrusive or
ostentatious manner; very far from it. The occupants of that "coign of
vantage", to whom Milsom was now added, were, so far as the ordinary
observer was concerned, lounging indolently in their several basket
chairs, reading, smoking, and chatting together, and apparently giving
not a thought to anything that was happening outside the bulwar