d innumerable difficulties. Nowadays, it is often
necessary only that the pursuing craft possess sufficiently greater
speed to overtake the easily located fugitive.

As the "Sudbury" turned out into the open sea that little gunboat was
in instant communication with Washington, and also with any wireless
equipped ocean traveler up to nearly half way across the great Atlantic.

At three o'clock the Navy Department at Washington reported to a gunboat
out of sight of land that the last sighting of the supposed "Juanita"
placed her on the same course as hitherto reported.

At four o'clock came word that the Navy Department had had no new report
as to the schooner by wireless.

At five o'clock another wireless despatch was flashed through the air.
Lieutenant Jack Benson, reading, discovered that the "Juanita" had
again been sighted on the same course, headed for some port in the
British West Indies.

At 5:20 Ensign Eph Somers, port watch officer of the "Sudbury," sent a
marine orderly to report to Lieutenant Benson that a schooner's
topmasts were within sight.

Benson hurried to the bridge, but found Ensign Fullerton there just
ahead of him.

"We'll shape our course in straight pursuit of the schooner, Mr.
Fullerton," decided Lieutenant Jack.

"Very good, sir."

As yet the schooner's topmasts were visible only from the military top.
After a few minutes had passed, however, the vessel's masts were visible
from the bridge.

"Does her rig look like that of the 'Juanita,' Mr. Somers?" questioned
young Benson.

"I can't say, sir," Eph replied. "I didn't see her, at Cobtown, under
sail. I shall have to wait until I can make out the hull, sir, before
I can make even a good guess."

Smoke was pouring heavily from the "Sudbury's" two funnels by this time,
for the gunboat was being pushed, under forced draught, to considerably
better than twenty knots an hour. The schooner apparently was making
between seven and eight knots an hour.

In a few minutes more the hull of the stranger began to show. Eph,
with a pair of marine glasses to his eyes, studied the stranger long
and carefully. Lieutenant Benson, knowing it would be folly to hasten
his comrade's judgment, waited in silent patience.

"That craft looks very much like the 'Juanita,' sir," ventured Eph, at
last. "In fact, sir, I think that's our schooner."

"Steer up to windward of her, then, Mr. Somers," Jack directed. "Mr.
Fullerton, give orders to have th