lowered gangway. A moment later an
officer stepped into the stern-sheets; and, with the naval ensign of
Spain snapping in the breeze at her stern, and her boat pennant trailing
from the staff in her bows, she shoved off and dashed away toward the
landing steps, with her eight oarsmen bending their backs and making
their good ash blades spring almost to breaking-point, as though their
very lives depended upon their speed. She swept past the _Thetis_
within a biscuit's toss, and the party on the top of that vessel's deck-
house were not only able to distinguish, by the gold braid on his coat
cuffs, that the solitary occupant of the stern-sheets held the rank of
captain, but also that the poor man looked worried and scared almost out
of his senses. Just before coming abreast of the yacht, which of course
had her club ensign and burgee flying, the boat swerved slightly from
her course, and for a moment it looked almost as though she intended to
run alongside; but the next moment she straightened up again and went on
her way toward the landing steps, the "brass bounder" in her stern just
touching the peak of his uniform cap with his finger tips in
acknowledgment of Jack's and Milsom's courtesy salute. Two minutes
later her crew tossed oars and she swept up alongside the landing steps
and hooked on; the skipper next moment springing up the steps and
disappearing in the crowd of idlers who had gathered at the head of the
steps.

Two bells came, and with it the stewards to lay the table for second
breakfast, or luncheon, on the yacht's deck-house; and as three bells
struck, the little party drew in round the "hospitable board" and sat
down to their mid-day meal. They had just about finished when Milsom,
who was sitting facing the town and wharf, put down his glass somewhat
emphatically on the table, and, rising to his feet, exclaimed: "Now,
what does this mean?"

"What does what mean?" demanded Jack, also rising to his feet and facing
in the direction toward which the skipper was looking. "Phew!" he
whistled; "the plot thickens! Surely it is not possible that we were
seen last night, Phil, eh?"

"I could have sworn that we were not," answered Milsom. "Yet, if we
were not, I repeat: What does this mean?"

He might well ask. For there, halfway between the wharf and the yacht,
was the cruiser's boat, with the captain and an elderly gentleman in
plain clothes in the stern-sheets; and it was unquestionable that they
we