now down, on the breast of another fickle monster. Love and the sea!
Have they not always been counterparts? Do they not span the known and
unknown in each man's world, carrying some in safety--others destroying?

It must have been nine o'clock when the forward watch called and,
springing to the rail, peering through the darkness, we saw down upon
the horizon the fixed white eye and three red sectors of the Key West
light.

"A good run, Gates."

"Nothing of our size can beat it, sir."

"You think the _Orchid_ will be in harbor?"

"I carn't say, sir. She had six hours' start of us, and could have
left."

"How long do we lay off this burg?" Tommy asked, sauntering up.

"That depends. If the mysterious yacht's here we'll stay till something
happens."

"And if she isn't," he nudged the professor, "we'll comb out the
universe. You get that, don't you? A nice fat job, I'll say it is!
How'll we know which way to start? Gates, couldn't you get a peep at her
papers in the port?" But the skipper solemnly shook his head, saying:

"It carn't be done, sir."

"Well, Jack, when customs are finished we'll take the launch and comb
out the harbor, anyhow! She'll be anchored nearby, like as not."

Not caring to tie up at the dock we chose a berth far enough out to
escape the electric glare ashore, and had hardly swung-to when Gates was
off in his gig to clear our papers. The port officials were astir and
accommodatingly looked us over without loss of time, for the skipper had
mentioned our wish to leave whenever the spirit moved us. Those, indeed,
had been his identical words, and I wondered if they were
prophetic--whenever the spirit moved us!

They were a nice pair of fellows, those American officers, and before
going into business--a mere formality in our case--we gathered in the
cockpit for a long straw and a bowl of ice. The occasion was more
agreeable for possessing that sense of aloofness one feels at being on
the edge, yet safely beyond the reach, of a little city's night
diversions and excitements.

"I suppose you've nothing dutiable," one said, knowing we had left
Havana unexpectedly soon.

"Nothing," Tommy volunteered.

"But, yes," Monsieur exclaimed. "I shall declare!"

"About the only thing he brought away was a wad of money from a roulette
game," I laughed.

"Ah, I surprise you," he cried, in high good humor, ducking below; and
was soon heard struggling up the stairs, crying: "Give me help!"

Into our