first, let me tell you all, I've got a pretty accurate knowledge of this
coast. I ought to have, considering that I spent several years on and
off it in a business which goes by the name of _contraband_. Now, all
round the shores of Panama Bay there's just the sort of wild
forest-covered country Mr Blew talks about getting strayed in. We
might land within twenty miles of that port, and yet not be able to
reach it, without great difficulty. Danger, too, from the savages, our
first officer seems so much afraid of. Whereas, by putting ashore
anywhere along here, we won't be far from the old Nicaraguan road, that
runs all through the Isthmus. It will take us to the town of Panama;
any that wish to go there. But there's another town as big as it, and
better for our purpose; one wherein we'll be less likely to meet the
unpleasant experience Mr Blew speaks of. It isn't much of a place for
prisons. I'm speaking of Santiago, the capital city of Veragua; which
isn't over a good day's journey from the coast. And we can reach it by
an easy road. Still that's not the question of greatest importance.
What most concerns us is the safety of the place _when we get to it_--
and I can answer for Santiago. Unless customs have changed since I used
to trifle away some time there--and people too--we'll find some who'll
show us hospitality. With the money at our disposal--ay, a tenth part
of it--I could buy up the _alcalde_ of the town, and every judge in the
province."

"That's the sort of town for us--and country too!" exclaim several
voices. "Let's steer for Santiago!"

"We'll first have to put about," explains Gomez, "and run along the
coast, till we find a proper place for landing."

"Yes," rejoins Harry Blew, speaking satirically, and as if exasperated
by the majority going against him. "An' if we put about just now, we'll
stand a good chance of goin' slap on them rocks on the port beam.
Thar's a line o' breakers all along shore, far's I can see. How's a
boat to be got through them? She'd be bilged to a sartinty."

"There are breakers, as you say," admits Gomez; "but their line doesn't
run continuous, as it appears to do. I remember several openings where
a boat, or ship for that matter, may be safely got through. We must
look out for one of them."

"_Vaya, camarados_!" puts in Padilla, with a gesture of impatience.
"We're wasting time, which just now is valuable. Let's have the barque
about, and stand along the