"The long and short of it is, Captain Weaver," said Captain Acton, "Mr Lawrence having lured my daughter on board the vessel he commands through some ruse which I am unable to explain, made sail at once with the lady on board, not for Kingston, Jamaica, but for Rio Janeiro, where he proposes to discharge the mate and crew after reading to them a forged promise by me that their wages to Kingston shall be trebled on their return and on their application to me. He also proposes to sell the ship and cargo, and he is manifestly acquainted with some scoundrel out at Rio, who, in spite of such vigilance as the officials of Rio may be in the habit of exercising, will undoubtedly discover a market, though not necessarily at Rio." "Rascally things can be done at sea, sir," said Captain Weaver, whose face, instead of gaining in the look of amazement that had coloured it on his entrance, was slowly settling as Captain Acton proceeded into an expression of hard-a-weather composure. With such a look perhaps a thoroughbred, stout-hearted British sailor would view the calamity or catastrophe that was pressing strong men down upon their knees in devotion, and causing tears of terror to flow from the eyes of others. "Oh, Captain Weaver, there are many wicked people at sea!" cried Miss Acton. "Think of the pirates! Think of the slavers! My poor, poor niece!" "Now, sir," continued Captain Acton, "it is not the intention of Sir William Lawrence or myself to suffer my daughter to be kidnapped by an act of treachery which I forbear to say more about in the presence of my honourable and gallant old friend, Admiral Lawrence." "Oh, Acton," exclaimed the Admiral, "nothing that you can say could approach what I feel, could express what I suffer." "My intention is," Captain Acton went on, "to fit out the _Aurora_ at once for a chase. We know where the _Minorca_ is bound to. Mr Lawrence's course must necessarily be yours. Your vessel can sail two feet to his one. If we are unfortunate enough to miss him on the high seas, we shall be at Rio a week or a fortnight before the _Minorca_ arrives, to receive him. When can you get your ship ready for sea?" Captain Weaver reflected. "To-day, sir," he said, "is Toosday. I'll engage to be under way by Saturday." "Not before?" cried Miss Acton, an exclamation which Captain Weaver received with a faint smile. "That will be giving the _Minorca_ long odds, won't it?" said Captain Acton. "No, sir. If we took a fortnight to fit the clipper for sea, we should overhaul the _Minorca_ or be ahead of her long before she heaves her port into sight." "What's the distance to Rio, Captain Weaver?" asked the Admiral. "All five thousand miles, sir." "What would you call the _Aurora's_ average?" enquired Captain Acton. "I'll put it low to make sure," responded Captain Weaver, "and call it a hundred and twenty-five miles a day, though a hundred and fifty would be nearer the mark."