As soon as the Sylvania was made fast I went on shore. Colonel Shepard seemed to be bewildered, for Owen had just told him the Islander had gone down the river. The rest of the family were quite as much astonished as the husband and father. Chloe, the colored servant, was actually wringing her hands, as though she feared another conspiracy was about to be developed. "Where is the Islander, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel, as I presented myself before him. "She has gone down the river; and the last I saw of her, she was shaking out her fore-topsail," I replied. "But what does that mean?" added Colonel Shepard, with a frown. "I'm sure I don't know, sir. She got under way about half-past six. I supposed Captain Blastblow was about to take a turn or two in her before he ran up to the wharf. It is now quarter-past seven, and the Islander is still making her way down the river. You can see her across the land, though only her spars are in sight." I pointed out the tapering masts of our consort--if she was to be our consort--in the distance. Presently she disappeared behind a forest of pine. "I don't understand it at all," said the perplexed owner of the stray yacht. "What does Captain Blastblow mean by treating me in this manner, when I ordered him to be at this wharf precisely at seven?" "I can't explain it, sir," I replied. "There is clearly some misunderstanding about the matter." "You saw me write the card at the post-office last night, Captain Alick: and I sent it off by the young man who was with you." "Yes, sir; Nick Boomsby took the card; and I have no doubt he delivered it, for he came on board of the Sylvania towards night. "I think Captain Blastblow intends to return soon," I added, for I could not think of any explanation of his singular conduct. I certainly could not reason out any plausible occasion for such a violation of his orders as that in which he seemed to be engaged. "Perhaps he has run off with the yacht, and intends to become a pirate, or something of that sort," suggested Gus Shepard. "Nonsense, my son! The Islander is not an armed vessel, and Captain Blastblow is not a pirate," replied Colonel Shepard. "Do you suppose anything was out of order on board of the steamer, Captain Alick?" "It is possible; but if such was the case, the captain would hardly have gone so far down the river," I replied. "If the Islander had needed any more repairs, Captain Blastblow would have remained in Jacksonville and attended to them." "Perhaps he wishes to become better acquainted with the vessel before he takes her to sea," added the colonel. "He might have done that yesterday. He would not have waited until you were ready to sail, and then gone off on an experimental cruise," I answered. "An experimental cruise!" exclaimed Owen. "What a terrible expression. I hope Captain Blastblow don't use such expressions. If he does, he has gone out to sea where he can have room enough to unsnarl his tongue."