Why should this warship cause a
pleasure-yacht to turn out of its way? I have no idea.
But the _Ebba_ behaves in a very different manner when about six
o'clock in the evening a second ship comes in sight on the port bow.
This time, instead of seeking to avoid her, Captain Spade signals an
order by means of the apparatus above referred to, and resumes his
course to the east--which will bring him close to the said ship.
An hour later, the two vessels are only about four miles from each
other.
The wind has dropped completely. The strange ship, which is a
three-masted merchantman, is taking in her top-gallant sails. It is
useless to expect the wind to spring up again during the night, and
she will lay becalmed till morning. The _Ebba_, however, propelled by
her mysterious motor, continues to approach her.
It goes without saying, that Captain Spade has also begun to take in
sail, and the work, under the direction of the boatswain Effrondat, is
executed with the same precision and promptness that struck me before.
When the twilight deepens into darkness, only a mile and a half
separates the vessels.
Captain Spade then comes up to me--I am standing on the starboard
side--and unceremoniously orders me to go below.
I can but obey. I remark, however, ere I go, that the boatswain has
not lighted the head-lamps, whereas the lamps of the three-master
shine brightly--green to starboard, and red to port.
I entertain no doubt that the schooner intends to pass her without
being seen; for though she has slackened speed somewhat, her direction
has not been in any way modified.
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