"Take them below," ordered Dacres, "coil away this rope and make all snug, then clear upper deck."
Directly this was done the "Meteor" forged ahead and quickly settled down to her former pace.
As soon as the rescued men had been supplied with food and drink General Whittinghame asked them whether any steamer had passed them.
To this the master replied that one had, about four hours previously. His description of her left no doubt but that she was the craft which had picked up Durango and his companions from the waterlogged flying-boat.
"Do you know her name?" asked his questioner.
"No, señor, I do not. Do you, Enrico?"
The man addressed shook his head. Neither could his companion give a satisfactory answer. He remembered that it began with Q, and that the name of the port she belonged to was Boston.
"Good!" ejaculated Captain Whittinghame when, his brother had interpreted the information. "She's a Yankee. I don't suppose we shall have much trouble now. Four hours ago, eh? Allowing her eight knots at the very outside with this sea running we ought to overhaul her in less than half an hour. Tell those fellows not to worry. We will pay them well for the information and put them ashore at Panama, or else the first vessel we speak that will serve their purpose."
Vaughan had not over-estimated the time taken to overhaul the Boston tramp. Eighteen minutes after resuming the chase the look-out reported a column of smoke rising above the horizon. Four minutes later the sought-for vessel was plainly visible.
On her short rounded counter appeared the words "Quickstep, of Boston, Mass."