business by stating that Don
Nicholas de Pierola wanted Boyton to start for Peru at once, with a full
equipment of dresses, torpedo cases, electrical appliances, and
everything necessary for the destruction of Chilean vessels. It did not
take Paul long to arrange the preliminaries and before he left, a
contract was made by which he was to enter the Peruvian torpedo service,
with a commision of Captain. He was to receive one-hundred-thousand
dollars for the first Chilean vessel destroyed; one-hundred-and-twenty-
five thousand dollars for the second and one-hundred-and-fifty thousand
dollars for the third. Three Chilean vessels that were desired most to
be destroyed were named. They were the Huascar, Blanco Encalado, and
Almirante Corcoran.

Next day Boyton was busy getting the necessary equipment together, happy
in the thought of more adventure and chances of big prize money. He
also received credentials as a newspaper correspondent under the name of
Pablo Delaport. He told his family he was going to take a little run
to Panama, but said nothing about Peru. On October 10th, 1880,
accompanied by his assistant, George Kiefer, he embarked on the steamer
Crescent City for Aspinwall, arriving at that port on the 19th, whence
they crossed to Panama and were compelled to wait there two days for the
Columbia to bear them south, to Peru. One of the passengers from New
York, was a curious and erratic character, who was the possessor of
a weighty secret. After much mystery, he decided to make Boyton his
confidant, and he solemnly revealed to him the matter that was bearing
on his brain. It was to the effect that a great treasure was buried on
a distant island and he was about fitting out an expedition to go in
search of it. A female relative, who was a clairvoyant, had located
the treasure and he was sure of finding it. He was anxious for Paul to
join him in the search, and displayed almost insane disappointment at
receiving a refusal. At Panama, the fortune hunter purchased an outfit
of arms, including a commander's sword which he strapped on and strutted
about with the air of a bold buccaneer. He chartered a vessel in which
he sailed for the treasure island; but, as Paul afterward learned,
returned after great suffering and loss, minus the treasure.

A Chilean man-of-war, the Amazonas, was anchored at Panama on the
lookout for a torpedo launch that was expected to arrive for the
Peru