ould be no doubt that they were
all on the tugboat. The explanation instantly flashed upon Martella.

"Captain Navarro suspected the truth some time after we left and
hurried to take us to the Castle again. Some news may have reached
him, or his own sense told him of my trick. He met the General on the
way."

Such undoubtedly was the fact. Had our friends suspected aught of that
nature, they would not have frittered away the precious minutes as
they had done.

Meanwhile, the resinous wood flung into the furnace of the tugboat was
doing its work. From the single smokestack poured the murky vapor,
sprinkled with crimson sparks which were tossed right and left high in
air, to drop hissing into the water. In the moonlight, a snowy winrow
at the bow showed that the tug was plowing ahead with fast increasing
speed. Capable of making a dozen miles an hour, she was already doing
her best, and coming up with the sailboat hand over hand.

Only a few minutes were given the fugitives in which to decide what to
do. A straight away race was hopeless, for the pursuer, now no more
than an eighth of a mile distant, was sure to overhaul them in a very
brief time.

"I am inclined to let General Yozarro come up with us," said the
Major; "I have no fear of his molesting me or Miss Starland, and I am
rather curious to hear what he has to say for himself. We are in our
own boat, or at least not in his, and we have committed no crime
against the Atlamalcan Republic, whatever that name means."

"You must not think for an instant of such a thing," said his sister
with great earnestness.

"Why not? Do you hold him in fear?"

"No; but he will take vengeance upon Martella, who has served us so
faithfully."

"Great heavens! I never thought of that; and he will be as merciless
with Captain Guzman for having helped Martella."

"And with _you_ for crossing his path."

"With me! I long for a meeting with him; but, Captain," added the
American, raising his voice; "it will not do for you and Martella to
be on board when General Yozarro overtakes us."

"I think you are right," replied the Captain; "the General and I have
never loved each other, and even General Bambos would not object
strongly if it is proposed to shoot me for aiding an Atlamalcan to
desert from his navy."

Martella said nothing, but no one understood the situation better than
he.

"I will head the boat for the southern shore, where you two can look
out for yourselves."