Sick at heart, Louis watched the Maud as she dashed through the inlet, and laid her course to the south-east as soon as she had made an offing. While Mrs. Belgrave was thankful in her heart that her son was not on board of the schooner with her, he was groaning in spirit that he was not with her. The only consolation he had was that Felix McGavonty was at her side, or within call. Captain Ringgold had been very sure that the poor lady would be subjected to no hardship or indignity of any kind; and he was disposed to accept his assurance. “Which the Maud is bound for Bermuda, sir, as you can see from the course she is taking, sir,” said Bickling approaching him. “Which it is what I ’ad the pleasure of informing you, sir.” “I have no doubt she is bound to Bermuda,” replied Louis, very sadly. “Which it is a great pity that we have no vessel to follow her in, sir. With a fast yacht like the Blanche, sir, you could soon over’aul her, sir.” As the cook knew nothing about the Guardian-Mother, he could not have informed Kimpton in regard to her. Louis was sure that nothing had been said about the steam-yacht in the presence of either of the men he had employed. Scoble could have obtained no information from his confederate; and it was evident from the course he had shaped in sight of the shore that he did not expect to be pursued any farther, now that the Phantom had been destroyed. “We shall soon have a vessel which is faster than the Blanche, Bickling,” replied Louis after he had considered the subject for a few minutes. “Which I am very ’appy to ’ear, sir,” added the cook; and he seemed to be really pleased. “Which I am very sorry, sir, that Flounder turned out to be a bad man, sir.” “What did he wish you to do when he knocked you down?” asked Louis. “Which he wanted me to go on board of the Maud, sir, and not tell you or the captain of the steamer that the Maud she was in there, sir,” answered Bickling. “Which I wouldn’t do, sir; no, sir, not for the crown of Hingland, sir, to a gentleman as ’as used me kindly, as you ’ave, sir.” Louis had no doubt in regard to the honesty and fidelity of the cook; but his courage and intelligence were other things. The captain interrupted the conversation, which was of no importance at this stage of the adventure. “The question just now is as to what we are to do next, Mr. Belgrave,” said Captain Brisbane, as he seated himself by the side of Louis. “I am compelled to answer in your own words, ‘Not a thing,’” replied the young man. “We might as well be on a desolate island as here.” “Not quite so bad as that, for we have saved from the wreck provisions enough to last us two or three days. We have the boat, and we could cross to the other side of the inlet, and find our way to the life-saving station, or we could row up the river to the town where Scoble mailed his letter to Kimpton.”