And a second later he made up his mind and whirled about.
"Hard a port!" he roared.
And Clif's heart leaped with joy as he heard that order.
The sailor was so much interested in that strange incident that he let his prisoners remain on deck while he stood and stared. The Spanish vessel raced swiftly in toward shore.
And the stranger as soon as he saw that stopped his frantic gesticulating and stood still to wait.
The captain ran in as close as he dared, and then stopped. He stepped into the bow.
"What do you want?" he roared.
"Send a boat," the man shouted back. "I must come aboard. Quick!"
The captain muttered an exclamation of astonishment under his breath; but his curiosity alone would have been sufficient to move him. The gunboat's wherry boat was quickly gotten away.
As for Clif, he was simply wild with delight. For he could see that it was Lieutenant Hernandez after all.