Bessie Stuart was fortunately spared that indignity. The sailor gruffly ordered them to go below. The vessel, meanwhile, had resumed her trip. She had been running along close to the coast under cover of the darkness of the previous night. And now she turned to steal back. Clif's heart was heavy, and he was miserable beyond description. But he turned and silently followed the sailor to the companionway. They did not go below at once, however, for just then something occurred that made the sailor stop. The man who had first spoke to Clif, the captain, apparently, had been sweeping the shore with his glass. And just then he gave a startled exclamation. Everybody heard him, and the Spanish sailor stopped and turned to look. Clif was so listless and despairing that he did not take the trouble to do likewise; but when he heard the exclamations of the men he felt his heart give a leap. They were staring at a man on the shore. "What in the world can be the matter with that fellow?" cried the captain. "Santa Maria! he is calling to us!" exclaimed another. "He must be crazy," declared a third. The captain, with his glass could see more plainly than the others, and his astonishment grew greater. "Why, he's a Spanish officer--a lieutenant, I think! And he is trying to hail us. What can it mean?" "Perhaps he's got dispatches!" suggested some one. It flashed over Clif in an instant what that meant, and Bessie Stuart heard him give a muffled exclamation of delight. For he could see a blue-uniformed figure running down the shore and waving its arms wildly. "It's Lieutenant Hernandez!" he panted. And there was a wild gleam of hope in his eyes as he realized what that meant. He might rescue them again! Feverishly Clif watched to see what the gunboat would do. The captain continued staring and muttering exclamations of astonishment. "I wonder if he does want us," he cried. "Por dios, I do think that's it." And a second later he made up his mind and whirled about. "Hard a port!" he roared. And Clif's heart leaped with joy as he heard that order. The sailor was so much interested in that strange incident that he let his prisoners remain on deck while he stood and stared. The Spanish vessel raced swiftly in toward shore. And the stranger as soon as he saw that stopped his frantic gesticulating and stood still to wait. The captain ran in as close as he dared, and then stopped. He stepped into the bow. "What do you want?" he roared. "Send a boat," the man shouted back. "I must come aboard. Quick!" The captain muttered an exclamation of astonishment under his breath; but his curiosity alone would have been sufficient to move him. The gunboat's wherry boat was quickly gotten away. As for Clif, he was simply wild with delight. For he could see that it was Lieutenant Hernandez after all.