in Almanza's watch, as were six of the
Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch
below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an
earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the
matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that
Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him
on a Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that
Almanza would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a
few minutes with men who had sailed with him previously.

"Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and
both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to
the other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition
to Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his
manners and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would
take him to be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was
not Ryan and that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the AEgean
Sea.

"At this time, Mr. Frewen, the _Esmeralda_ was near these islands--in
fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some
Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island,
decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in
need.

"Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he
suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of
his second officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs.
Marston--who shudders when she mentions Almanza's name--says that
shortly after the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on
some excuse, but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He
was absent about a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as
usual.

"A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking
at the land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing,
Villari, with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with
the steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and
re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on
the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at
the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He
told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be
shot down if they at