to be sent to Tampa and to Galveston, Texas, concerning the departure
of several transports with American troops. And Captain Vinton
himself had almost encountered a notorious filibuster named Juan
Bego, one night during the earlier part of this pleasure cruise;
that is, he had sighted a vessel which he felt sure was the _Esperanza_
of Captain Bego, in waters which were supposed to be debarred to the
enemy. All this had tended to make him more alert and wary than
ever, even suspicious; and he had resolved to lose no time in
reporting his most recent discovery.

"You boys might as well heave them old tarpon poles overboard now,"
he said seriously, as he shifted the helm. "That there craft I seen
las' night ain't Yankee built, I'll swear; and if she should take a
notion to foller us, we want to be light and shipshape, without no
signs o' lubberliness that the squall may have brought to the surface.
How's everything in the cabin, Dave? Tight and neat?"

The Seminole grunted, nodding his head in affirmation. Apparently
he was too disturbed in mind to reply verbally; besides, like most of
his kind, he was a poor sailor, and he did not enjoy the speed at
which the _Arrow_ was now sailing. It upset his mental balance as
well as his bodily equilibrium.

Obeying the captain's instructions, the boys tossed overboard their
heavy poles, saving only the lines and reels.

"When we get back to Key West, what's the first thing to do, Captain?"
inquired Alec.

"Report seeing that steamer to the naval authorities," was Vinton's