"I say!" called Jack, down a partly opened port into the cabin, "I think you'd better come up here, Lieutenant."
"Oh, he hasn't had his tea yet!" objected Cora.
"That doesn't matter—if something is up!" was the hasty rejoinder, and, leaving the table, the revenue officer hastened up on deck, buttoning his oilskins as he went.
"What is it?" he asked of the two young men.
"She seems to be turning," said Jack, "thought you'd better know."
"That's right. I'm glad you called me. Yes, she is changing her course," said Lieutenant Walling. "I wonder what she's up to?"
The Ramona—Jack and Walter had made out her name under her stem rail now—was still slowly wallowing in the sea. She appeared to have lost headway, for she was moving very slowly, having barely steerage-way on. The Tartar had no trouble in keeping up to her.
"I wonder if they've seen us, and are waiting for us?" ventured
Walter.
"They may have seen us, but they wouldn't stop—not in this sea," was the reply of the revenue officer. "They're up to some trick, and I can't just fathom what it is."
With keen eyes he watched the steamer as it tore on through the mist.
It was much nearer now.