o the Spaniards away there on the
mainland."

"Well," said Lance, "I cannot of course decide exactly how to use your
resources to the best advantage until I have seen them and the place.
As far, however, as the design of the new ship is concerned, I can set
about it at once. I must ask you, however, to release the carpenter and
Bob, the apprentice, and to allow them to join us aft. The carpenter is
a practical man, whose advice and assistance will be most valuable to
me; and as for Bob, he has been brought up in a district famous for
yacht-building, and will be sure to prove helpful to us."

"Very well, colonel, I reckon you can have 'em," said Johnson. "Only
don't you be persuaded to try any tricks on account of having two extra
hands, because if you do, I calculate you'll find us always ready."

"All right," laughed Lance, "I'll keep your warning and advice in mind.
By the by, before I go below, let me suggest that as a few of us are,
like myself, smokers, a pound or so of tobacco now and then would be
regarded as a delicate attention on your part."

"Right you are, colonel," answered Johnson cordially, "you shall have
the terbacker and some cigars too if you like 'em; I guess we've got
plenty of both on board."

So saying Johnson turned upon his heel and dived below for his sextant.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

JOHNSON HOODWINKS A FRIGATE.

Left to himself Lance sauntered aft, glanced first at the binnacle, then
at the sails, and finally essayed a conversation with the helmsman. The
man proved at first to be exceedingly surly, suspicious, and taciturn,
but Lance Evelin was a man of consummate tact, and his manner was at
once so refined and so genial that there were very few who could for any
length of time withstand its fascinating influence. In less than half
an hour he had so won upon the man, who was by no means all bad, that
everything approaching to reserve had completely vanished, and when
Johnson came on deck after working out his sights he found the strangely
assorted pair conversing as freely together as though they had been old
shipmates. Lance was very careful to confine his conversation to
generalities, and religiously abstained from asking any questions
whatever; he quite realised that the party to which he belonged were in
a position of great difficulty and danger, their escape from which, if
indeed they should ever escape at all, would certainly be a work of
time, demanding the utmost caution a