“We have not seen a thing on the water, sir.”

“I hardly expected that there would be.  It is probable that, as soon as the boats got back, Carthew sent his skipper or mate off with a couple of the men to Port au Prince, to lay a complaint for piracy against me.  But, even if they got horses, it would take them a couple of days to get there; that is, if they are not much better riders than the majority of sailors are.  Then it is likely that there would be some time lost in formalities, and even if there was a Government steamer lying in the port, it would take her a long time to get up steam.  Moreover, I am by no means sure that even Carthew would venture on such an impudent thing as that.  It is certain that we should get into a bad scrape for boarding and burning a vessel in Haytian waters, but that is all the harm he could do us.  The British Consul would certainly be more likely to believe the story of the owner of a Royal Squadron yacht, backed by that of her captain, mates and crew, and by Miss Greendale and her maid; than the tale of the owner of a vessel that could give no satisfactory explanation for being here.  Besides, he will know that before a steamer could start in chase we should be certainly two, or perhaps three, days away, and whether we should make for Jamaica or Bermuda, or round the northwestern point of the bay, and then for England, he could have no clue whatever.”

“How shall I lay her course, sir?  The wind has freshened already, and we are slipping through the water at a good four knots now.”

“We will keep along this side, as far as the Point at any rate.  If Carthew has sent for a steamer, he is likely to have ordered a man down to this headland to see which course we are taking.  When we have got so far that we cannot be made out from there, we will sail north for Cape la Mole.  I think it would be safe enough to lay our course at once, but I do not wish to run the slightest risk that can be avoided.”

The wind continued to freshen, and to Frank’s satisfaction they were, when Bertha came on deck at eight o’clock, running along the coast at seven knots an hour.

“Have you slept well?” he asked, as he took her hand.

“Yes.  I thought when I lay down that it would be impossible for me to sleep at all—­it had been such a wonderful day, it was all so strange, so sudden, and so happy—­and just as I was thinking so, I suppose I dropped off and slept till Anna woke me three quarters of an hour ago, and told me what time it was.

“Frank, I did not say anything yesterday, not even a single word of thanks, for all that you have done for me; but you know very well that it was not because I did not feel it, but because if I had said anything at all I should have broken down, and that was the very thing that I knew I ought not to do.  But you know, don’t you, that I shall have all my life to prove how thankful I am.”

“I know, dear, and between us surely nothing need be said.  I am as thankful that I have been the means of saving you, as you can be that I was almost miraculously enabled to follow your track so successfully.”