“How far is she from the Bec?”

“I don’t know, sir.  I did not ask Purvis.”

Frank went aft and repeated the question.

“I fancy that that is the Bec, the furthermost point that we can see,” Purvis said, “and I reckon that she is about halfway to it.”

“Keep her a point or two out, Purvis.  The line of shore is pretty straight beyond that, and I want of all things not to lose sight of her for a moment.  I would give a good deal to know what she is going to do.  I cannot think that she is going to try to go round the southeast point of the island, for if she were she would have laid her head that way before.”

The Osprey edged out until they opened the line of coast beyond the headland, and then kept her course again.  There was a trifle more wind as the sun rose higher, and the yacht went fully a knot faster through the water.  In less than two hours the brigantine was abreast of the headland.  Presently Frank exclaimed: 

“She is hauling in her wind.”

“That she is, sir,” Hawkins, who had just come on deck, exclaimed.  “She surely cannot be going to run into the bay.”

“She can be going to do nothing else,” Frank said.  “What on earth does she mean by it?  No doubt that scoundrel is going to land with Miss Greendale, but why should he leave the Phantom at our mercy, when he could have sent her on to Port au Prince?”

“I cannot think what he is doing, sir; but he must have some game on, or he would never act like that.”

“Of course, he may have arranged to go with the lady to some place up in the hills; but why should he sacrifice the yacht?”

“It is a rum start anyhow, and I cannot make head or tail of it.  Of course you will capture her, sir?”

“I don’t know, Hawkins.  It is one thing to attack her when she has Miss Greendale on board, but if she has gone ashore it would be very like an act of piracy.”

“Yes, sir.  But then, you see, they fired into our boat, and killed one of our men, and wounded you and four or five others.”

“That is right enough, Hawkins, but we cannot deny that they did it in self defence.  Of course, we know that they must have recognised us, and knew what our errand was, but her captain and crew would be ready to swear that they didn’t, and that they were convinced by our actions that we were pirates.  At any rate, you may be sure that the blacks would retain both craft, and that we should be held prisoners for some considerable time, while Miss Greendale would be a captive in the hands of Carthew.  I should attack the brigantine if I knew her to be on board, and should be justified in doing so, even if it cost a dozen lives to capture her; but I don’t think I should be justified in risking a single life in attacking the brigantine if she were not on board.  To do so would, in the first place, be a distinct act of piracy; and in the second, if we got possession of the brigantine we should have gained nothing by it.”