Pitts carried this report to the cabin. Louis had no chance to observe the sail, and he passed the glass up to his watch-mate. Morris examined the distant sail with the instrument, and he could see only her masts and sails; but a streak of black smoke in the air indicated that she was a steamer. She was hull down, and he could not make out anything about her. But it was soon evident to him that the sail was gaining rapidly on the Maud.
Louis struck eight bells, which was noon this time, and the captain and Felix appeared on time. He wrote "386 miles" on his station-bill as the distance the Maud had made at the end of the forenoon watch. He took the wheel, and then asked about the sail which had been reported. All that was known was stated to him; but he could make nothing of it.
"I don't know when the Guardian-Mother left Gib, and of course I can't tell when she will overhaul us," said he. "She must have got off some time yesterday forenoon, and it is time that she was up with us. On the upper deck, Flix, watch the sails, and keep a lookout for the steamer astern."
After Felix and Morris had dined they hastened to the promenade deck; they were interested in the sail astern, for it had been already demonstrated that it was steering the same course as the Maud. In a couple of hours more, her burgee, which had evidently been set for a purpose, could be distinguished.
"It's the Guardian-Mother as sure as that my mother was born in Ireland!" exclaimed Felix, who was the lookout man, and had the glass, which he passed to Louis as soon as he had satisfied himself.
"The sail is the Guardian-Mother!" he shouted over the pilot-house.
"I don't believe those on board of her will know the Maud," suggested Morris. "They never saw her carrying sail, and she will look like a strange sight to them."
"Captain Ringgold will make her out in good time," added Louis.
In half an hour the steamer astern was within a quarter of a mile of the Maud. At this time Pitts and Don came on the upper deck with the order from the captain to take in sail, which the former delivered to Morris as the first officer, and he had already hauled down the jib. It was an easy matter to furl the sails compared with what it had been to set them, and the stops were soon put on the after sails. There was no longer any need of the party on the upper deck, and they descended to the forecastle.
By this time the Guardian-Mother was abreast of the Maud, and hardly a biscuit's throw from her. In this position she stopped her screw, and Captain Scott rang one bell for the same purpose.