mmediately slowed down to half-speed, not only
on account of the intricate navigation, but also to give the _Union_ a
better chance of overtaking them if it should happen that she really was
still astern. Catharine Point was passed and left behind, and the two
steamers crossed Lomas Bay into the "First Narrows," where Jim thought
it possible that the _Union_ might be waiting; but she was not there.
They were steaming slowly across Elizabeth Bay, and Douglas was
beginning to fear that the corvette had eluded him, after all, when a
voice, hoarse with excitement, hailed from aloft:--

"On deck there! I can see three mastheads showing above that hummock of
rock at the entrance to the `Second Narrows'; and there is a column of
smoke visible, too, so the craft must be a steamer. We shall open her
out in a few minutes now, and I think she must be that detestable
corsair we are looking for."

Jim was, as usual, on the navigating bridge when the hail floated down;
and his first act was to seize a speaking-trumpet and shout the news to
Manuel on the bridge of the _Miraflores_. His second was to spring up
the ratlines, seat himself alongside the seaman in the crosstrees, and
take a good look at what he could see of the stranger from that
elevation. A prolonged scrutiny convinced him that the craft could be
none other than the _Union_; and he hurried down to give his final
orders, both ships having been kept practically prepared for action ever
since the moment on the evening before when they started in company to
look for the corvette. There was consequently very little to do in the
way of preparation; and a quarter of an hour after sighting the
Peruvian's mastheads both Chilian ships were ready for the fray.

They had not steamed another cable's-length when it became evident that
a sharp look-out must also have been kept aboard the corvette; for her
masts began to slide along the top of the ridge of rock, showing that
she was under way; and a few minutes later the entire ship swept into
view, flying the Peruvian ensign, and so leaving no room to doubt that
she was the long-sought-for _Union_.

Directly she hove in sight Jim signalled to the _Miraflores_ to close up
and come alongside him, at a distance of half a cable's-length away, and
both ships quickened up their speed, by such small degrees as to be
imperceptible, to nine knots, which was as fast as the cruiser's consort
could steam. Presently a long, dismal wail ca