Copplestone shaded his eyes and stared out across the sea. The steamer was by that time no more than two or three miles away. But she was coming towards them in a dead straight line, and as she was accordingly bow on, and as her top deck and lamps were obscured by clouds of black smoke, pouring furiously from her funnels, they could make little out of her appearance. Copplestone's first notion was that she was a naval patrol boat, or a torpedo destroyer. Whatever she was it seemed certain that she was heading direct for the island, at that very point on which the fugitives had been landed the previous night. And it was very evident that she was in a great hurry to make her objective. "I think you're right," he said, turning to Audrey. "But it's strange that any vessel should be making for an uninhabited island like this. What--but you've got some notion in your mind?" he broke off suddenly, seeing her glance at him again. "What is it?" Audrey shook her head, with a cautious look at Chatfield. "I was wondering if that's the _Pike_?--come back!" she whispered. "And if it is--why?" Copplestone started, and took a longer and keener look at the vessel. Before he could speak again, Vickers called out cheerily across the rocks. "Come on, you two!" he cried. "She's seen us--she's coming in. They'll have to send off a boat. Let's get down to the beach, so that they'll know where there's a safe landing." He sprang over the edge of the cliff and hurried down the rough path; Chatfield, picking up his coat and shawl, prepared to follow him; Audrey and Copplestone lingered until he, too, had begun to lumber downward. "If that is the _Pike_," said Audrey, "there is something--wrong. Whoever it is that is on the _Pike_ wouldn't come back to take us!" "You think there is somebody on the _Pike_--somebody other than Andrius?" suggested Copplestone. "I believe the man who calls himself Marston Greyle was on the _Pike_," announced Audrey. "I've always thought so. Whether Chatfield knew that or not, I don't know. My own belief is that Chatfield did know. I believe Chatfield was in with them, as the saying is. I think they were all running away with as much of the Scarhaven property as they could lay hands on and that having got it, they bundled Chatfield out and dumped him down here, having no further use for him. And, if that's the _Pike_, and they're returning here, it's because they want Chatfield!" Copplestone suddenly recognized that feminine instinct had solved a problem which masculine reason had so far left unsolved. "By gad!" he exclaimed softly. "Then, if that is so, this is merely another of Chatfield's games. You don't believe him?" "I would think myself within approachable distance of lunacy if I believed a word that Peter Chatfield said," she answered calmly. "Of course, he is playing a game of his own all through. He shall have his pension--if I have the power to give it--but believe him--oh, no!"