“Splendid. That will suit you to a T,” exclaimed the major. “You can stay here two or three weeks, to give yourself time to hunt up as much information as possible about Stavanger. Then, failing success, you can proceed from here direct to Port Said, and board the ‘Merry Maid’ in the canal. By the time you get to Cardiff, the vessel might have started on her voyage, so your surest chance of success lies in waiting for this Captain Cochrane at his port of destination. And I think you had better take the authorities into your confidence. They might help you to find Stavanger.” It was agreed to follow Major Colbrook’s advice in the main, but our friends preferred to go on to Port Said without much more delay. “Hugh Stavanger probably saw us,” said Annie. “If so, he will not come back to Malta.” “Perhaps not, but you have no guarantee that your supposition as to his having seen you is correct. And you will surely not leave here till news of some sort respecting the balloonists arrives.” “No; it will be better to wait a little while.” That a little patience was advisable, was proved when the particulars of the rescue of the balloonists came to hand. When, however, the Corys learned that Hugh Stavanger was not returning to Malta, they left the island for Port Said as soon as it could be managed. But here they were baffled again, as by the time they landed, the man whom they sought was already on his way to Bombay, and no efforts of theirs could discover a trace of him. “We must remain here now until the ‘Merry Maid’ arrives,” said Annie. “Meanwhile, it strikes me that we have been acting very clumsily. To give a different name to ship captains and hotel proprietors is not enough. We must disguise ourselves effectually. It is quite possible that Hugh Stavanger recognised me at Valetta, and that but for that misfortune he would have been brought to book by this time. Such a blunder must not be made again. We have a great stake to play for, and we intend to win.” “You are right, Annie. If the fellow suspects us, he will look out for us, so we must circumvent him by losing ourselves, as it were.”