在一番讨论之后，约翰叔叔和女孩们决定带上弗洛和蒙特罗斯太太一起去参观“阿拉贝拉”快艇。于是，大家驱车前往圣塔莫尼卡湾，一路上大家都十分兴奋。琼斯的快艇究竟是什么样子呢？大家是否如愿见到了卡格船长呢？
Uncle John and the girls，after consulting together，decided to stop at the Hollywood studio and pick up Flo and Mrs.Montrose.
"It would be a shame to visit that lovely yacht without them，"said Patsy；"and we were all invited，you know.""Yes，invited by a host who is unavoidably detaineda elsewhere，"added Uncle John.
"Still，that yacht is very exclusive，"his niece stated，"and I'm sure we are the first Americans to step foot on its decks."They were all in a brighter mood since the interview at the jail，and after a hurried lunch at the hotel，during which Maud related to the others the morning's occurrences，they boarded the big Merrick seven—passenger automobile and drove to Santa Monica Bay.Louise couldn't leave the baby，who was cutting teeth，but Arthur and Beth joined the party and on arrival at the beach Uncle John had no dif？culty in securing a launch to take them out to the Arabella.
"They won't let you aboard，though，"declared the boatman.
"A good many have tried it，an'come back disjointed.There's something queer about that craft；but the gov'ment don't seem worried，so I guess it ain't a pirate."The beauty of the yacht grew on them as they approached it.It was painted a pure white in every part and on the stern wasthe one word：Arabella，but no name of the port from which she hailed.The ladder was hoisted and fastened to an upper rail，but as they drew up to the smooth sides a close—cropped bullet—head projected from the bulwarksa and a gruffb voice demanded：
"Well，what's wanted？"
"We want to see Captain Carg，"called Arthur，in reply.The head waggedc sidewise.
"No one allowed aboard，"said the man.
"Here's a letter to the captain，from Mr.Jones，"said Maud，exhibiting it.
The word seemed magical.Immediately the head disappeared and an instant later the boarding ladder began to descend.But the man，a sub—of？cer dressed in a neat uniformof white and gold，came quickly down the steps and held outhis hand for the letter.
"Beg pardon，"said he，touching his cap to the ladies，"but the rules are very strict aboard the Arabella.Will you please wait until I've taken this to the captain？Thank you ！"Then he ran lightly up the steps and they remained seated in the launch until he returned.
"The captain begs you to come aboard，"he then said，speaking very respectfully but with a face that betrayed his wonder at the order of his superior.Then he escorted them up the side to the deck，which was marvelouslya neat and attractive.Some half a dozen sailors lounged here and there and these stared as wonderingly at the invasion of strangers as thesubaltern had done.But their guide did not pause longer than to see that they had all reached the deck safely，when he led them into a spacious cabin.
Here they faced Captain Carg，whom Patsy afterwarddeclared was the tallest，thinnest，chilliest man she had ever encountered.His hair was grizzled and hung low on his neck；his chin was very long and ended in a point；his nose was broad，with sensitive nostrilsb that marked every breath he drew.As for his eyes，which instantly attracted attention，they were brown and gentle as a girl's but had that retrospective expression that suggests far—away thoughts or an utter lack of interest in one's surroundings.They never looked at but through one.The effect of Carg's eyes was distinctly disconcertingc.
The commander of the Arabella bowed with much dignity as his guests entered and with a sweep of his long arm he muttered in distant tones："Pray be seated."They obeyed.The cabin was luxuriously furnished and there was no lack ofcomfortable chairs.
Somehow，despite the courteous words and attitude of Captain Carg，there was something about him that repelled con？dence.Already Maud and Patsy were wondering if such a man could be loyal and true.
"My young master，"he was saying，as he glanced at the letter he still held in his hand，"tells me that any questions you may ask I may answer as freely as I am permitted to.""What does that mean，sir？"Maud inquired，for thespeech was quite ambiguous.
"That I await your queries，Miss，"with another perfunctory bow in her direction.
She hesitated，puzzled how to proceed.
"Mr.Jones is in a little trouble，"she ？nally began."He has been mistaken for some other man and—they have put him in jail until he can be examined by the federal judge of this district."The captain's face exhibited no expression whatever.Even the eyes failed to express surprise at her startling news.He faced his visitors without emotion.
"At the examination，"Maud went on，"it will be necessaryfor him to prove he is from Sangoa."No reply.The captain sat like a statue.
"He must also prove that certain pearls found in his possession came from Sangoa."Still no reply.Maud began to faltera and fidgetb.Beth was amused.Patsy was fast growing indignant.Flo had a queer expression on her pretty face that denoted mischief to such an extent that it alarmed her Aunt Jane.
"I'm afraid，"said Maud，"that unless you come toyour master's assistance，Captain Carg，he will be sent to Austria，a prisoner charged with a serious crime."She meant this assertion to be very impressive，but it did not seem to affect the man in the least.She sighed，and Flo，with a giggle，broke an awkward pause.
"Well，why don't you get busy.Maud ？"she asked."I—in what way，Flo？"asked her sister，catching at thesuggestion implied.
