is craft, however, proved to be a Nova Scotian vessel, with papers all
right, a cargo beyond suspicion and no sign of the fugitive Gray aboard.

When news of this second failure had been flashed to Washington, and
twenty minutes more had passed, the instructions came back out of the
ether:

"Cruise slowly about where you are. Await new instructions, which will
go forward to you as soon as we have fresh, reliable information from
any source. See that your own search light is freely used through the
night."

"'Puss in the Corner,' at sea," muttered Lieutenant Benson. "And we
ain't even find a corner."

An hour later the young commander of the "Sudbury" turned in. Hal was
on the bridge.

The gunboat cruised along lazily at about eight knots an hour. For
some time Hal paced the bridge indolently, while the sailor lookout,
forward, manipulated the searchlight, sending its beam in wide circles
over the waters.

It was within half an hour of the time of calling the new watch, in fact,
when the bow watch reported:

"Sail dead ahead, sir!"

Barely more than a topsail could be made out, even through the marine
glass of the young watch officer.

"Hold the light on her; we'll overtake and examine her, anyway," was
Ensign Hastings's quick decision. From the bridge he gave orders for
the engine room to go ahead with increased speed. While the gunboat was
bounding off after the stranger, time came to call the port watch. Eph
Somers came up to the bridge, somewhat sleepy.

"Same old story, I guess," yawned Eph. "Have you passed the word to
the executive office?"

"Not yet," Hal replied. "I didn't believe it worth while to break the
slumber of Mr. Fullerton, or of the commander, until we got close to
see whether the stranger looks in the least like the 'Juanita.'"

"I don't believe the 'Juanita' is anywhere on this wide ocean," muttered
Eph, stifling a yawn.

"It doesn't look that way," smiled Hastings.

Down before the wheelhouse a bell began to sound briskly.

"Eight bells; your watch, Mr. Somers," announced Hastings. "But I am
going to remain on the bridge with you for a while. I want a look at
that mud-hooker over yonder."

Within fifteen minutes more the gunboat was running fairly close,
though off to starboard.

"That doesn't look even a little bit like the 'Juanita,'" muttered
Ensign Eph, disgustedly. "Why, she's longer than the Cobtown schooner.
Besides, the 'Juanita' is a two-sticker, while t