"I don't know how fast the Fatimé is; but she was slow enough on the run from Mogadore to Funchal, though perhaps they did not hurry her. I don't believe I shall make a straight course of it to Gib," answered the captain, still studying the chart.
Louis had been directed to head the Maud for Point Malabata, and Scott stood by the open window of the pilot-house during the conversation. The little steamer had certainly gained upon the bigger one, which was said to be of about four hundred tons, for she had passed out of a convenient speaking distance of her. When first seen the Fatimé's smoke-stack seemed to be a useless appendage, for nothing issued from it; but as soon as she came about a volume of black smoke had begun to pour out of it, which was continuously increasing.
"Do you see the black smoke the Fatimé is sending out of her funnel?" asked Louis of the captain, who still retained his place at the window.
"I see it; and perhaps that explains why we have run away from her," replied Scott. "When we first discovered her she was just going into port, and, as the engineer had ordered his men to let the fires down in the furnaces, she was going very slowly. She had not steam enough to enable her to keep up with us. But as soon as the Pacha told his captain to chase the Maud, they began to shovel in the coal."
"That explains it all right," added Louis.
"I would give ten cents out of my own pocket to know how much water that steamer draws," continued Captain Scott, who was still gazing intently at the chart.
"I have not the least idea. She is two hundred tons less in burden than the Guardian-Mother, if that will give you any idea," replied Louis. "Perhaps Felipe knows something about it. Flix, stand by the engine and ask the engineer to come to the pilot-house."
"I'll do that same. I'll stand by the engine while Felipe comes here, and see that no one runs away with it while he is gone; but that is all I can do," replied the Milesian, as he went aft.
The Spaniard was shovelling in more coal at the furnaces when Felix went into the engine-room. He had been ordered to get up all the speed he could on the boat, but he had not been informed in regard to the occasion of this hurry. He promptly obeyed the summons of the captain. When he came to the door of the pilot-house he turned to enter, and then, for the first time, he discovered the Pacha's yacht astern of the Maud.
"La Fatimé!" he exclaimed, aghast at the sight of her, as he retreated in absolute terror.