The steamer Spangled Star, very lame, with only one engine working, and with her propeller finding it difficult to urge her along on a straight course, came into San Juan harbor, wabbling toward her wharf.
Spangled StarBefore she got in altogether, she stopped, for she was hardly manageable at intervals, and a motor boat put out from the shore and hailed her.
In the boat were Nick Carter and his two assistants, with Captain Douglas and Paul Clayton.
The police uniform of Douglas was enough to make the captain of the steamer lower a sea ladder right away. He might not have done it for one in citizen’s clothes—which was the reason Nick Carter had insisted on Douglas putting on his blue and brass, gold badge and all, to impress the commander.
Nick wasted no time when once he got on deck.
