d a base line, or even a fresh set of points taken higher up
the inlet, I could improve on my part of the survey," he said. "Yours
is admirable, Miss Maxwell. Of course, I know you are an artist; but
mapping is a thing apart. That is first-rate."

"Perhaps you may be able to secure fresh data when the _Kansas_ puts to
sea again," said Christobal.

"If I am conning the wheel, I must leave the chart-making entirely to
my assistant," replied the captain, lightly. "But I do mean to peep a
little further into our estuary. Before the ship sails I may have
another spare hour to devote to it."

"In what way?" asked Elsie.

"By utilizing the canoe. A mile or so higher up the channel I should
be clear of the bluff which hides Otter Creek. I imagine it will be
possible then to see the full extent of the bay. I must get you to
sound Suarez as to the lie of the land."

"I hope you will do nothing of the sort," protested Elsie, earnestly.

"Why? Do you think the canoe unsafe?"

"No, no; not that. But those waiting Indians. They might see you."

"Oh, the Indians again! I shall run no risk of that sort. It would
indeed be the irony of fate if the _Kansas_ slipped her cable and left
the skipper behind."

"Huh! No fear! She'd follow you like Joey. I was tellin' Miss
Maxwell what a lucky fellow you were. Besides, if you went, I 'd be in
command, and you know what would happen then. By gad, if all else
failed, the bloomin' tub would turn turtle in the Pool."

To emphasize his remarks, Boyle blew a big smoke ring, and shot several
smaller rings through it.

Elsie felt Christobal's critical eye on her; she was shading the
outlines of the map, and trusted that her head was bent sufficiently to
hide the tell-tale color which leapt to her face. But Courtenay wished
to hear more of this.

"I hope you do not credit everything my chief officer says about me,"
he said, glancing over her shoulder at the drawing. "Nor about
himself," he added, as she was too busy to look up. "To my knowledge,
he has refused the command of two ships since we both joined the
_Kansas_."

"Home orders!" cried Boyle, who was certainly beyond himself. Probably
he missed his regular vocal exercise owing to lack of a crew. "My
missus says to me, 'You just stick to Captain Courtenay, young
feller-me-lad. He's one of the get-rich-quick sort. P'raps you 'll
learn from him how to dodge Board of Trade inquiries.' You stand on
what I told