But Mrs. Cliff kept up a strong heart. She felt that a great deal depended upon her. At any moment an emergency might arise when she would be called upon, as owner of the yacht, to decide what should be done. She hoped very earnestly that if the Captain of the _Dunkery Beacon_ saw that the _Summer Shelter_ was determined to follow him wherever he went, and whatever he might do, he would at last get tired of being nagged in that way, and consent to give up Mr. Shirley. About eight o'clock in the morning, all belief in the minds of the men on board the yacht that the _Dunkery Beacon_ intended to sail to Rio Janeiro entirely disappeared, for that steamer changed her course to one considerably north of east. A little after that a steamer was seen on the horizon to the north, and she was bearing southward. In the course of half an hour it seemed as if this new steamer was not only likely to run across the course of the _Dunkery Beacon_, but was trying to do it. "Captain," exclaimed Mrs. Cliff, grasping Burke by the arm, "don't you think it looks very much as if that Captain Hagar was trying to run away with the treasure which has been entrusted to him?" "I didn't intend to say anything to you about that," he replied, "but it looks like it most decidedly!" "If that should be the case," said Mrs. Cliff, "don't you think Mr. Shirley's situation is very dangerous?" "Nobody knows anything about that, madam," said he, "but until we get him back on this yacht, I'll stick to her!" Burke could not make out the new-comer very well, but he knew her to be a Mediterranean steamer. She was of moderate size, and making good headway. "I haven't the least bit of a doubt," said he to Burdette, "that that's the pirate vessel from Genoa!" "I shouldn't wonder if you're right!" said the mate, taking the glass. "I think I can see a lot of heads in her bow, and now I wonder what is going to happen next!" "That nobody knows," said Burke, "but if I had Shirley on board here, I'd steam away and let them have it out. We have done all we're called upon to do to keep those Peruvian fools from losing that cargo of gold!" The strange vessel drew nearer and nearer to the _Dunkery Beacon_, and the two steamers, much to the amazement of the watchers on the yacht, now lay to and seemed prepared to hail each other. They did hail, and after a short time a boat was lowered from the stranger, and pulled to the _Dunkery Beacon_. There were but few men in the boat, although there were many heads on the decks from which they had come. "This beats me!" ejaculated Burke. "They seem willing enough to lay to for her!" "It looks to me," said Mr. Burdette, "as if she wanted to be captured!" "I'd like to know," said the Captain, "what's the meaning of that queer bit of blotched bunting that's been run up on the _Dunkery_?" "Can't tell," said the other, "but there's another one like it on the other steamer!"