ain.

"When I say smuggler," replied Pepe, chuckling at his own perspicuity,
"it is only meant as a compliment, for you haven't an ounce of
merchandise in your boat, unless indeed," continued he, pointing with
his foot to a rope ladder, rolled up, and lying in the bottom, "unless
that may be a sample! _Santa Virgen_! a strange sample that!"

Face to face with the unknown, the coast-guard could now examine him at
his leisure.

He was a young man of about Pepe's own age, twenty-five. His complexion
had the hale tint of one who followed the sea for a profession. Thick
dark eyebrows were strongly delineated against a forehead bony and
broad, and from a pair of large black eyes shone a sombre fire that
denoted a man of implacable passions. His arched mouth was expressive
of high disdain; and the wrinkles upon his cheeks, strongly marked
notwithstanding his youth, at the slightest movement, gave to his
countenance an expression of arrogance and scorn. In his eyes--in his
whole bearing--you could read that ambition or vengeance were the ruling
passions of his soul. His fine black curling hair alone tempered the
expression of severity that distinguished his physiognomy. With regard
to his costume, it was simply that of an officer of the Spanish navy.

A look that would have frightened most men told the impatience with
which he endured the examination of the coast-guard.

"An end to this pleasantry!" he cried out, at length. "What do you
want, fellow? Speak!"

"Ah! talk of our affairs," answered Pepe, "that is just what I desire.
Well, in the first place, when those two fellows of yours return with my
cloak and lantern--which they are cunning enough to make a seizure of--
you will give them your commands to keep at a distance. In this way we
can talk without being interrupted. Otherwise, with a single shot of
this carbine, which will stretch you out dead, I shall also give the
alarm. What say you? Nothing? Be it so. That answer will do for want
of a better. I go on. You have given to my captain forty _onzas_?"
continued the carabinier, with a bold guess, making sure that he named
enough.

"Twenty," replied the stranger, without reflecting.

"I would rather it had been forty," said Pepe. "Well, one does not pay
so high for the mere pleasure of a sentimental promenade along the shore
of the Ensenada. My intervention need be no obstruction to it--provided
you pay for my neutrality."

"How?" asked the u