"
"Silly!" murmured Belle, but it was noticed that she glanced at her
brown linen dress, relieved with little touches of flame-colored
velvet here and there--in which costume she made a most attractive
picture. At least, Walter thought so.
"Perhaps zey are in search of him," suggested Inez, pointing to
Sailor Ben, who was lying on a coil of rope in the bow.
"That's right!" exclaimed Jack, with a look of admiration at the
Spanish girl. "They may have heard a story of his being on the
island, and come out to rescue him. They could tell we came from
that direction."
"It's possible," admitted Walter.
Whoever was in charge of the revenue cutter, seeing that their
signals to speak the Tartar had been observed and answered, cut down
the speed somewhat, so that the government vessel came on more
slowly. In a short time, however, she was near enough for a hail,
through a megaphone, to be heard.
"What boat is that?" was the demand.
"The Tartar, from San Juan," was Jack's reply.
"Where bound?"
"It's too long a story to yell this way," was Jack's answer. "Shall
we come aboard?"
"No, I'll send a boat," came back. Presently a small boat,
containing three men, was lowered, for the sea was very smooth, and
in a little while a trim-looking lieutenant was at the accommodation
ladder of the Tartar.
"Why, it's just like a play!" murmured Bess, as she saw the sword at
the officer's side.
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