the breeze is now striking
her. It is upon her starboard quarter, instead of the beam, as it
should be; and as Captain Lantanas left it on going below!

Yet, since he went below, the wind has not shifted, not by a single
point!

The barque must have changed her course; and indeed, has done this; the
man at the wheel having put the helm _up_, instead of _down_, causing
her to draw closer to the land, in direct contradiction to the orders of
the captain!

Is it ignorance on the steersman's part? No, that cannot be. Gil Gomez
has the helm; and being a seaman, should know how to handle it.
Besides, Padilla is standing beside him; and the second mate, whatever
his moral qualities, knows enough for the "conning" of a ship; and
cannot fail to observe that the barque is running too much inshore.

Why the skipper's orders are not being carried out, is because they who
now guide the _Condor's_ course, do not intend that her keel shall ever
cleave the waters of Panama Bay.

Why, this is told by the speech passing between them:

"You know all about the coast in there?" inquires Padilla, pointing to
land looming up on the port-side.

"Every inch of it; at least, sufficient to make sure of a place where we
can put in. That headland rising on the port-bow is Punta Marietta. We
must stand well under, taking care not to round it before evening. If
we did, and the breeze blow off-shore, which it surely will, we'd have
trouble to make back. With this light wind, we won't make much way
before nightfall. When Lantanas and the rest are down at dinner, we can
put about, and run along till we sight a likely landing place."

"So far as being looked after by Lantanas," observes the second mate,
"we need have no fear. To-day the cabin-dinner is to be a grand spread.
I overheard his orders to that effect. He intends making things
pleasant for his passengers before parting with them. As a matter of
course, he'll stay all evening below--perhaps get fuddled to boot--which
may spare us some trouble. It looks like luck, doesn't it?"

"Not much matter about that," rejoins Gomez; "it'll have to end all the
same. Only, as you say, his staying below will make things a little
easier, and save some unpleasantness in the way of blood-spilling.
After dinner, the senoritas are sure to come on deck. They've done so
every night, and I hope they won't make this night an exception. If Don
Gregorio and the skipper keep downstairs, and--"