Part 48 (2/2)
”Yes. She was going to stop elsewhere, but the captain allowed he'd make straight for San Juan,” added the captain of the barkentine, through the megaphone he was using. Then, after a few words more, the two vessels separated.
”It's San Juan sure!” cried Dave. ”From what Mr. Borden and Billy Dill say of Captain Hunker he would not tell a falsehood. I guess the best thing we can do is to sail for that port.”
”I think so myself,” returned Captain Sanders.
The chase was now a definite one, and Dave felt much relieved. He wondered if they would be able to overtake the _Aurora_ before Porto Rico was reached.
”We can do that with ease,” answered Captain Sanders when questioned.
”But even so, she may not stick to just the course we take, and we may pa.s.s her in the night. So don't worry if we don't see or hear anything before San Juan is reached.”
”I'll try not to worry,” answered our hero. Yet he could not help it, for so much depended on the successful outcome of his mission. He knew that those at home must be in deep distress, and he could picture the anxiety of Mr. Wadsworth and his wife and Jessie, and also the anxiety of his own folks.
”Oh, we've got to catch Jasniff and get back those jewels!” he told himself. ”We've simply got to do it! I won't give up, if I have to follow him around the world!”
It had been warm, but now the weather changed and a strong breeze made living far more comfortable. The breeze was favorable to sailing, and the _Golden Eagle_ plowed the deep at a good rate of speed. Many of the islands of the Lesser Antilles were pa.s.sed, and some truly dangerous reefs, and then the course was straight for the harbor of San Juan, on the northeastern coast of Porto Rico.
They had seen nothing so far of the _Aurora_, but on the afternoon of the last day out they were pa.s.sed by a freight steamer from the south and received word that the schooner was not far away and making for San Juan.
”I guess we had better go right in and get the authorities to take hold,” said Captain Sanders. ”This is no matter for us to handle, now we are in United States waters once more.”
Dave agreed; and as soon as possible they entered the harbor and went ash.o.r.e. It was an easy matter to notify the harbor police, and inside of two hours half a dozen officers of the law were detailed to make the necessary arrests. Dave and Giles Borden and Captain Sanders went with them, leaving Phil, Roger, and the others aboard the _Golden Eagle_.
The patrol boat of the harbor police had to remain on the watch all night and half the next morning before the _Aurora_ was sighted.
”There she is!” cried Dave, at last, and Giles Borden echoed the words. Then the patrol boat lost no time in steaming alongside of the schooner.
”h.e.l.lo, what's wanted?” demanded Captain Hunker, as he saw the officers of the law.
”We'll come aboard, captain,” said the officer in charge.
”What's the matter?”
”We are after four of your pa.s.sengers.”
At that moment somebody appeared near the rail, to learn what the shouting meant. It was Nick Jasniff. He gazed at the officers of the law and then at Dave. As he recognized our hero his face fell and he looked totally dumfounded.
CHAPTER x.x.x-HOMEWARD BOUND-CONCLUSION
”Jasniff, I want to see you!” shouted Dave.
”What do you want of me, Dave Porter?” returned the big youth, as boldly as he could.
”You know well enough.”
”Humph! You think you've got me, don't you?” sneered Nick Jasniff, and then he left the rail of the vessel and disappeared down a companionway.
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