aboard the steamship to make out the manner of the
odd-looking craft that has turned up in their track, and is sailing
straight towards them. They see a barque, polacca-masted, with some
sails set, and others hanging in shreds from her yards.

This of itself would be enough to excite curiosity. But there is
something besides; a flag reversed flying at her mainmast-head--the flag
of Chili! For the distress signal has not been taken down. And why it
was ever run up, or by whom, none of those now in the barque could tell.
At present it serves _their_ purpose well, for, responding to it, the
commander of the steam packet orders her engines to slow, and then cease
action; till the huge leviathan, late running at the rate of twelve
knots an hour, gradually lessens speed, and at length lies motionless
upon the water.

Simultaneously the barque is "hove to," and she lies at less than a
cable's length from the steamer.

From the latter the hail is heard first:

"Barque ahoy! What barque is that?"

"The _Condor_--Valparaiso. In distress."

"Send a boat aboard!"

"Not strength to man it."

"Wait, then! We'll board you."

In less than five minutes' time one of the quarter boats of the liner is
lowered down, and a crew leaps into it.

Pushing off from her side, it soon touches that of the vessel in
distress.

But not for its crew to board her. Crozier has already traced out his
course of action. Slipping down into the steamer's boat, he makes
request to be rowed to the ship; which is done without questioning. The
uniform he wears entitles him to respect.

Stepping aboard the steamship, he sees that she is what he has taken her
for: a line-packet from San Francisco, bound for Panama. She is crowded
with passengers; at least a thousand seen upon her decks. They are of
all qualities and kinds; all colours and nationalities; most of them
Californian gold-diggers returning to their homes; some successful and
cheerful; others downcast and disappointed.

He is not long in telling his tale; first to the commander of the
steamer and his officers; then to the passengers.

For to these last he particularly addresses himself, in an appeal--a
call for volunteers--not alone to assist in navigating the barque, but
to proceed with him in pursuit of the scoundrels who cast her away.

He makes known his position, with his power to compensate them for the
service sought; both endorsed by the commander of the steamship,