A hearty greeting was exchanged between them and the captain of La Belle Marie, and the three then descended to the cabin.

After a time they reappeared, and the visitors returned to their respective ships.

Five minutes later the schooner got under way, and La Belle Marie followed her, leaving the other brig to continue her cruise alone.

Toward evening the schooner ran in toward a precipitous cliff, the brig keeping close in her wake.

Ralph had no doubt that they were now close to the spot the privateers used as their rendezvous, but he could detect no opening into the cliff ahead, and it looked as if the schooner was leading the way to destruction.