It was evident that Gregory had escaped from the steamer; and, by comparing notes, it was made plain enough that he had gone off in the mackintosh and cap of the baronet. The officer of the deck called a shore-boat, and sent one of the stewards with a note for the captain to the mole where Raymond was waiting for him. It contained a brief account of what had happened on board during his absence.
O’Hara was very unwilling to leave the harbor without the fugitive; and he stated his case to the consul, who promised to have him arrested as a runaway sailor.
O’Hara had only ascertained that the squadron had sailed for Santa Cruz de Teneriffe six days before. He had no doubt the fleet was there then; and he examined the chart. Satisfied with the promise of the consul to arrest and hold the escaped prisoner, he decided, after consulting the adults on board, to sail for the Canaries. Mr. Frisbone concluded to remain on board, with his wife and her sister; for they had all become in a measure accustomed to the sea, and Miss Louise had wonderfully improved in health.
O’Hara was very confident that he should find the fleet at Santa Cruz; but great was his astonishment when he arrived, to find it was not there. He ordered out the second cutter; and, taking Raymond with him to talk Spanish for him, he went on shore. He inquired at the custom-house, and learned that the squadron, with the Marian, had sailed for Palmas, in the Grand Canary. As at Funchal, the principal had kept his own counsel, and no further information could be obtained. This was the first time he heard that the steam-yacht of Judge Rodwood was with the squadron.
“Tom, my boy, the judge is after you,” said O’Hara when he returned to the ship. “He came here with the squadron, in the Marian; and she seems to be a part of the fleet, for she sailed with the other vessels for the Grand Canary.”
“Then perhaps my cruise in the Tritonia is nearly up,” replied Tom, rather sadly.
“Faix, I don’t know that we shall ever find that same fleet!” exclaimed Capt. O’Hara. “It seems to be dodging us, wherever we go.”
“I am in no great hurry to find it,” added Tom, with a smile, as he turned to his books, which were his constant companions when he was not on duty, and sometimes when he was.
“Well, what’s to be done?” asked the Prince, as O’Hara reported to him the latest news.
“I suppose we can do nothing but follow the fleet; and, if it holds still long enough, I have no doubt we shall find it after a while,” answered O’Hara.