Brandon of the Engineers

Dick awoke next morning with a feeling of nervous strain that got worse

as the day wore on. By going down to the saloon immediately the

breakfast-bell rang and making a hurried meal, he and his companions

avoided meeting Kenwardine, and, after bribing a steward, were given

lunch with the second-class passengers. Two difficulties were thus got

over, but the time passed heavily while they kept out of sight in quiet

corners of the after well, and Dick found it a relief when a friendly

engineer invited him below. Here he spent some hours, smoking and

watching the machinery, while the fingers of the clock on the bulkhead

crawled with painful slowness round the dial.

When he went up on deck the bold ridge of the Blue Mountains rose above

the dazzling sea, but the lower slopes were veiled in haze and he could

not tell how far the land was off. A mate informed him that they would

have the coast close aboard at dusk, but did not think anybody would be

allowed to land until the morning. Struck by a thought, Dick asked if any

passenger boats were likely to be in port, and the mate replied that a

Spanish liner would leave for Brazil soon after they arrived, but he knew

of no vessel going north for the next few days. Then, after giving Dick

some advice about the choice of a hotel, he went away.

Towards sunset the sea-breeze dropped and the mist gathered thicker about

the hills. Faint puffs of hot wind began to blow off the land, which

faded suddenly as darkness rolled down. A thin haze drifted out across

the water and the speed slackened as the vessel closed with the shore.

Then dim lights blinked out ahead, the engines stopped, and a detonating

rocket burst high up in the sky. Soon afterwards a steam launch came off,

and the purser stopped near Dick on his way to his room.

"We are going in, but will have to wait until the agent gets formal

permission from the guardship's commander, who must see our papers

first," he said. "As this may take some time, perhaps you had better dine

on board."

When the bell rang Dick and his companions went to the saloon. There were

not many passengers, and the room was nearly empty, but as they entered

Dick saw Kenwardine at the bottom of a table. He glanced up as he heard

their footsteps, and with an abrupt movement turned his revolving chair

partly round. Next moment, however, he looked at Dick coolly, and after a

nod of recognition went on with his dinner. Don Sebastian indicated a

table between Kenwardine and the door, and they sat down.

Jake played with his food, and Dick had not much appetite, although he

partook of the dishes set before him, because he wanted an excuse for

occupying the table until Kenwardine had finished. The latter showed no

anxiety to get away and now and then kept the steward waiting while he

studied the menu. Dick, who envied his coolness, thought it indicated one

of two things: Kenwardine knew he was beaten and was philosophically

resigned, or had some plan by which he hoped to baffle his pursuers. Now

and then Dick looked at Don Sebastian inquiringly, but the Spaniard

answered with an enigmatic smile.