It was but the work of a second for our two friends to leap out of their car and throw back the curtains of the other car. O’Neil, with his automobile goggles concealing the upper part of his face, advanced, his revolver in front of him covering the occupants inside. Captain Garcia covered with his revolver the trembling chauffeur. “They are not here,” O’Neil gasped; “they have tricked us again.” O’Neil was in despair. Captain Garcia’s watch showed it was nearly three o’clock. Their enemies had surely gone to La Boca hours ago and had used this automobile to delay them until they could get Craig safely on board the ship and away from the harbor. “They knew we had followed ’em,” O’Neil exclaimed. “That native wasn’t as sleepy as we thought.” In a second they were inside their machine and were speeding back along the road. Reaching the villa of Mareno, they alighted by mutual consent and boldly entered the house by the rear door. The native was dragged from his bed and under the terrifying influence of a loaded revolver at his head confessed that Señor Mareno and two companions had gone on foot nearly three hours ago, and that they had been told of the presence in the house of the two naval officers. “We can catch her yet,” Captain Garcia declared stoutly as they sped back to La Boca. In the course of what seemed ages to O’Neil, but was in reality but a half hour, they were on board the “Aquadores.” As the cruiser steamed out of the harbor, O’Neil heard with a sinking heart the bells strike on the men-of-war at anchor. It was four o’clock and the escaping vessel had over three hours start. He had lost. The court would meet in four short hours and Midshipman Perry would be adjudged guilty. Swiftly the “Aquadores” steamed to the westward. Captain Garcia and O’Neil on the forward bridge watched with failing hopes the gray of dawn spread on the eastern horizon behind them. The sea in front was unbroken. Their prize was not in sight. Swiftly the cruiser plowed her way through the tranquil sea, but swifter yet the hands of the clock moved around its fatal dial. The sun appeared on the horizon out of a molten sea. As the gloom slowly melted, the eager sailor, straining his eyes to discover the vessel he hoped the increasing light would soon reveal, sighted the black hull of a steamer but a few miles ahead. “We’ve got her!” he cried joyously, then he turned with apprehension and saw the hands of the clock stood at six. “Stop her with a shot!” he pleaded. “We need every minute.” Captain Garcia gave a hurried order and a six-inch shell soared in the air, raising a column of water close to the merchantman. “That did the business,” O’Neil exclaimed as the merchantman stopped and ran up Verazalan colors at her gaff. In a few minutes the “Aquadores” was hove to near the “Mercedes” and Captain Garcia and O’Neil were quickly rowed to the intercepted vessel. They climbed to the top of the sea ladder, where the merchant captain met them.