When on the following morning Captain Horn perceived far away to the south a steamer which Captain Hagar, standing by with a glass to his eye, declared to be none other than his old vessel, the _Dunkery Beacon_, and when, not long afterwards, he made out a smaller vessel, apparently keeping company with the _Dunkery Beacon_, with another steamer lying off to the eastward, he was absolutely amazed and confounded. He could not comprehend the state of affairs. What was the _Dunkery Beacon_ doing down south, when by this time she ought to be far away to the east, if she were running away with the treasure, and what were those two other vessels keeping so close to her? He could not imagine what they could be, unless, indeed, they were her pirate consorts. "If that's the case," thought Captain Horn, but saying no word to any one, "this is not a part of the sea for my wife to sail upon!" Still he knew nothing, and he could decide upon nothing. He could not be sure that one of those vessels was not the yacht which had sailed from Kingston with Mrs. Cliff, and Burke, and Shirley on board, and so the _Monterey_ did not turn back, but steamed on slowly towards the distant steamers. CHAPTER XXIX THE "VITTORIO" FROM GENOA When Captain Horn on the _Monterey_ perceived that one of the vessels he had sighted was steaming northward with the apparent intention of meeting him, his anxieties greatly increased. He could think of no righteous reason why that vessel should come to meet him. He had made out that this vessel with the two others had been lying to. Why should it not wait for him if it wished to speak with him? The course of this stranger looked like mischief of some sort, and the Captain could think of no other probable mischief than that which had been practised upon the _Dunkery Beacon_. The steamer which he now commanded carried a treasure far more valuable than that which lay in the hold of the _Dunkery_, and if she had been a swifter vessel he would have turned and headed away for safety at the top of her speed. But he did not believe she could outsail the steamer which was now approaching, and safety by flight was not to be considered. There was another reason which determined him not to change his course. The observers on the _Monterey_ had now decided that the small vessel to the westward of the _Dunkery Beacon_ was very like a yacht, and the Captain thought that if there was to be trouble of any sort, he would like to be as near Shirley and Burke as possible. Why that rapidly approaching steamer should desire to board him as the _Dunkery Beacon_ had been boarded he could not imagine, unless it was supposed that he carried part of the treasure, but he did not waste any time on conjectures. It was not likely that this steamer carried a cannon, and if she intended to attack the _Monterey_, it must be by boarding her; probably by the same stratagem which had been practised before.