"Don't worry," advised Alice. "There isn't one chance in a thousand that you would be recognized after these years. In the first place, you have changed a lot. And, in the second place, probably the English officers who arrested you, and the others, are in some other part of the world now. Why do you think they may be on that steamer?"
"Well, things don't change down here as much as you might think," replied Jack, as he and Alice watched the steamer coming nearer. "And an Englishman is less likely to change than anybody else, Miss. He'll often stay in the same berth until he dies. So it's likely some of the same officers who were around here when I was arrested are here yet. And they may be on that vessel."
"But how can they recognize you?" Alice persisted.
"Well, if they didn't know me, they might know this ship."
"This ship! Why, this is only a small vessel, and yours was a big five-master."
"I know, Miss, I know," said Jack, with a nervous look over his shoulder. "But here's a secret I haven't told to anyone yet. This may be the Mary Ellen, but she used to be the Halcyon!"
Alice started back in surprise.
"The Halcyon!" she gasped. "How could it be?"
"This way, Miss. They built her over, cut down her length, and changed her so hardly anybody would recognize her. But I knew the Mary Ellen for the Halcyon almost as soon as I came aboard."
"And is that why you acted so—so queer?"