Provisions, to use Tom's way of expressing it, were now "more than low," and as they ate the scant food dealt around, Dick could not help but think of how Dora might be faring. "I'd willingly starve myself if only it would give her what she needs," he thought. It made him sick at heart to think of how she might be suffering. Mile after mile was passed, until the sun began to descend over to the westward. The yachts were now close on to quarter of a mile apart. "Here comes another steamer!" cried Tom presently. "Look here, why can't we get some help from her?" "Perhaps we can!" burst out Dick. "I never thought of that." "Let us signal her anyway," suggested Sergeant Brown. A flag was run up as high as the topmast permitted, and they headed directly for the steamer's course. As the ship came closer they made her out to be a big "tramp" from the South American trade. For the benefit of those who do not know, let me state that a tramp steamer is one going from one port to another regardless of any regular route, the movements of the craft depending entirely upon the freight to be picked up. "She sees the signal!" exclaimed Dick, after an anxious wait of several minutes. Slowly the steamer came up to them, and then her ponderous engines ceased to work. "What is wanted?" came in Spanish from a dark-looking man on the forward deck. "Can't you talk English?" cried Dick. "A leetle." "We are after that other sail-boat. The men in her are thieves and have abducted a girl, too. Will you help us catch them?" At this the man on the steamer drew down his face and held a consultation with several behind him. "You are sure they are thieves?" he asked presently. "Yes." "Have they with them the money that was stolen?" "We are pretty certain they have." "And the girl?" "Yes." "And what is the reward for the girl, senor?" "Well, I declare!" burst out Tom. "They are after a reward the first thing." "No reward yet," answered Dick. "But there may be." At this the South American scowled. "We cannot lose time on a hunt that is worth nothing," he said. "We must get to Brooklyn by tomorrow morning." "You won't help us bring them to justice?" "We cannot afford to lose the time." Without further words the big steamer's engines were started up again and away she sped, leaving the _Searchlight_ to sink and rise on the rollers left in her wake. "My, but that fellow is accommodating!" groaned Dick. "He isn't doing a single thing without pay." "We might have bought some provisions from him," put in Martin Harris. "I reckon he'd sell some for a round price--being so near to the end of his voyage." "I don't want his stuff," remarked Sam. "I'm afraid it would choke me if I tried to eat it." The stop had given the _Flyaway_ an advantage, and she was making the most of it. But before the gun went down those on the other yacht saw her head for the coast once more. "I guess the note told the truth," said Harris.