"Permit me to help you," said the Spaniard, "I am to blame for detaining you at breakfast."
"That is generous of you, Senor," replied Jim, "but I do not favor going to the expense of chartering a steamer. Even if it were possible, my plan would be to follow along the coast on horseback and see what can be done when they make a landing."
"As you are the General," replied the Spaniard, "we will allow you to make the plans."
"Look!" exclaimed Jo, "they are turning South instead of North."
"Impossible!" cried the Spaniard. "There is only one port within two hundred miles. I do not understand. Yes, they are surely going South."
"Perhaps they have a secret landing place," hazarded Jim.
"Not so," replied the Spaniard. "Not a harbor where they could land save one and there they would not dare to go."
The three watchers on horseback gazed until there was little to be seen other than a smudge of smoke upon the horizon. It was no use, the Sea Eagle was holding to her southerly course to some mysterious port. The sun had now come out and was shining with sheer brilliance upon the sparkling ocean.
"We must return now," said the Spaniard. "There is nothing more for us to do at present."
"I think that my brother and I will start this afternoon and take the trail to the south," announced Jim, "wherever those fellows set foot, I want to be waiting for them."