gn."

The captain laughed, grasping without hesitation a pen. He read not a
word, but laboriously penned his name at the point indicated.

"And now?" he said.

"That is all. Here is an order to Samson & Co., to turn the ship over to
you. A prosperous future to you, captain."

"And to yoh, suh."

The two men looked each other in the face for a moment, then the captain
silently took his departure.

On leaving the lawyer's office, Captain Beauchamp went at once to the
office of Samson & Co., where, on presentation of the order, the
Marjorie was turned over to him. Thence to the Barbary coast, where he
had little difficulty in picking up the crew he needed, including a man
of his own type as mate. These he sent on board at once. The engineer
was ordered to get everything in readiness for immediate departure. To
the mate he gave directions that on the following afternoon he should
set out for Playys, a small harbor near San Matteo Bay, and there await
his coming.

Selecting two of the crew upon whom he could rely, the captain hired a
team of horses and a driver and set out upon the road to San Matteo.
They traveled without incident, stopping over night at a hotel on the
way, until they came within about a mile of San Matteo. Here the driver
with his horses was sent back, they proceeding the rest of the way on
foot.

San Matteo Bay is a point at which it will be seen many interests are
centering.

CHAPTER X.

AT SAN MATTEO BAY.

"I thought you said that the rendezvous was somewhere in the South,"
drawled Berwick.

He was standing with Jim and the professor on the afterdeck of the
Storm King, watching away in the north the fast disappearing Sea Eagle.

"So I did, and so it is," answered Jim stoutly. "That heading to the
north is only a ruse on Broome's part to lead us in the wrong
direction."

"Hope you are right, but--" returned Berwick, leaving the sentence
significantly unfinished. "I am going down to the engine-room again. Let
me know if anything new transpires."

"Which way shall I lay our course, sir?" asked the captain, coming up to
where the others were standing.

The professor, before replying, looked at Jim inquiringly.

"To the South!" insisted Jim.

"South it is then," directed the professor.

"South it is," answered the captain, going back to the bridge.

"We will keep on that course until morning," added the professor. "And
as there is a fair breeze blowing we will proceed unde