A lighthouse on the mainland flashed a bright ray at them before the rising sun rendered its warning unnecessary. Still dogging them, the _Cigno_ followed in their wake at half speed, but Stump gave no eye to the warship. He continued to scan the coast intently. A low, double-peaked hill intervened between the lofty Jebel Aduali and the ship. When its saddle cut the summit of the more distant mountain, Stump changed the course sharply. To Royson's surprise, the yacht turned due west, and headed for the point whence the lighthouse had gleamed half an hour earlier. And now, instead of looking ahead, Stump kept his telescope glued on the _Cigno_. A cloud of smoke from the gunboat's funnels showed that she had noted the _Aphrodite's_ new direction, and meant to take a close interest in it. She had a few miles to make up, but that was a simple matter, and her nose swung to the southwest as she raced for the bay towards which the yacht was steaming. Both vessels held on, following converging lines, for nearly an hour. By that time they were hardly a mile apart. Suddenly Stump sent the _Aphrodite_ round until she lay on her previous course. In a word, after standing in for the land in the most decided manner, he was now making for the Straits again. This behavior apparently puzzled the Italian vessel, as, indeed, it succeeded in puzzling Royson and the man at the wheel, while the looks cast towards the bridge by the watch, who were mainly employed in swabbing the deck, told that the men were commenting on the yacht's erratic wanderings. All at once the blare of a siren came faintly over the shimmering sea, and Stump chuckled triumphantly. "He's found it," he roared, his voice almost rivaling the hoarseness of the far-off foghorn. "Sink me if that Dago wasn't so taken up with pipin' my antics that he's gone an' done it!" "Done what, sir?" asked Dick, seeing that his respected skipper was in hilarious mood. "Run his bloomin' _Cigno_ onto the Scilla Shoal. Damme, I thought he'd do it. Listen to him," for another wail reached them from the disconsolate warship. "He's fixed there as though, he was glued to it. He'll have to jettison all his bunker an' a gun or two afore he gets off. They tell me _Cigno_ means 'swan.' I wonder wot's the I-talian for 'goose.' Go an' tell Tagg. Tell him to tumble up quick, if on'y for the sake of ole times." Royson aroused the chief, and gave him the skipper's message. Tagg, rubbing his eyes, came on deck. He looked at the _Cigno_, heard her dismal trumpeting, and slowly took in the surroundings. "Well, s'elp me!" he grinned. "Sorry to rake cold ashes, cap'n, but isn't that where you piled up the Ocean Queen?"