I wasn't looking pleased."

"Yes, you were," said Poole sourly; "but you needn't be, because you
would be no better off with them than you are with us. But you are not
with them yet. Father seems to be taking things very easily, and that
only means that we are going to get away."

It did not seem like it, though, for as the schooner sailed on into the
beautiful orange glow of the coming evening, the gunboat neared them
swiftly, spreading a golden trail of light far behind her over the sea
which her screw churned up into foam, while overhead trailed backward
what seemed to be like a triumphant black feather of smoke.

The city before them looked bright and attractive with its gaily-painted
houses, green and yellow jalousies, and patches of verdure in the
gardens, beyond which the mountains rose in ridge after ridge of green
and purple and grey. The bay in front of them was singularly devoid of
life. Probably on account of the swell remaining from the hurricane
there were no fishing-boats afloat save one, with a long white lateen
sail running up into the air like the pointed wing of some sea-bird
gliding over the surface of the sea.

No one paid any heed to the boat, which drew nearer and nearer from the
fact that it was gliding across the bay right in the schooner's course.
In fact, every eye was directed at the gunboat, which came steadily on
without hurry, as if her commander felt that he was perfectly certain of
his prize, while what went on upon her deck was plainly visible through
the glass, the boys noting in turn that her heavy gun was manned and
ready to bring them to whensoever the gunboat captain pleased to make
her speak.

"Oh, Fitz!" groaned Poole. "It does seem so hard. I did think we were
going to do it now."

"Well, I can't help being sorry for you," said the middy. "Yes, it does
seem hard, though I suppose I oughtn't to speak like this. I say,
though, look at those stupid niggers in that boat! Why don't they get
out of the way? We shall run them down."

"Murder! Yes," cried Poole, and pulling out his knife he ran to one of
the life-buoys to cut it free; but ere he could reach it there was a
sharp crack as the schooner seemed to glide right over the fishing-boat,
the tall white lateen sail disappeared, and Fitz ran to the side,
expecting to see those who manned the slight craft struggling in the
water.

To his surprise, though, he saw that a dark-complexioned man was holding
on with a