on, charter a vessel myself, engage a crew, and search every
inch of the American coast, till I find where they've put in."

"What a pity we can't tell the place! They must have been near land to
have taken to an open boat."

"In sight of--close to it, I've been questioning Don Gregorio. He knows
that much and but little beside. The poor gentleman is almost as crazed
as the skipper. I wonder he's not more. He says they had sighted land
that very morning, the first they saw since leaving California. The
captain told them they would be in Panama in about two days after. As
the boat was being rowed away, Don Gregorio saw a coast-line through the
cabin windows, and not far-off. He saw their boat too, and they
appeared making straight for it. Of course they--. That's all I can
get out of the poor old gentleman, at present."

"The negro? Can he tell no better story?"

"I've questioned him too. He is equally sure of their having been close
in. What point, he has no idea, any more than the orangs. However, he
states a particular fact, which is more satisfactory. A short while
before they seized hold of him, he was looking over the side, and saw a
strangely shaped hill--a mountain. He describes it as having two tops.
The moon was between them, the reason for his taking notice of it. That
double-headed hill may yet stand us in stead."

"How unfortunate the skipper losing his senses! If he'd have kept them,
he could have told us where he was at the time the barque was abandoned.
It's enough to make one think the very Fates are against us. By the
way, we've never thought of looking at the log-book. That ought to
throw some light on the locality."

"It ought; and doubtless would, if we only had it. You're mistaken in
saying we never thought of it. I have; and been searching for it
everywhere. But it's gone; and what's become of it, I know not. They
may have thrown it overboard before forsaking the ship--possibly to blot
out all traces. Still, it's odd too, De Lara leaving these letters
behind!"

"And the barque under all sail."

"Well, I take it, they were hurried, and of course expected she'd soon
go to the bottom. Strange she didn't. No doubt she's met only smooth
weather till we came aboard her."

"I wonder where her log-book can be?"

"Not more than I. The old darkey says it used to lie on a little shelf
at the turning of the cabin-stair. I've looked there, but no log-book.
As you say, it