o hide his
repulse by turning to Major Starland:

"I have come aboard this vessel at your command; what do you desire of
me?"

"Your sword."

The Dictator meekly drew the blade from its scabbard and extended the
hilt toward the American, who recoiled.

"I refuse it; keep it; and take with you the remembrance that the most
dangerous thing mortal man can fool with is an American."

"Are you through?"

"I am, and I hope never to look upon your face again."

"_Mal rayo te parta!_ Your wish is reciprocated; I will return to my
boat."

"_Adios_, General Yozarro!"

The sullen fellow made no reply, and was assisted over the side and
rowed back to the crippled tug by the two sailors who had brought him
away. During the unique interview, the crew and officers crowded the
gunwale and watched proceedings with the keenest interest. Among them
was the bulky General Bambos.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

It may be thought that the most galling experience of General Yozarro
was the scarifying repulse of Miss Starland, when he presumed to
address her; but unknown to all except the author of the insult and
himself, he was compelled to taste a deeper dreg in the cup of
wormwood and gall. While he paused, facing the group of Americans, a
man on the outer fringe succeeded in catching his eye and made the
most taunting grimace conceivable. He repeated it several times, the
last being accompanied by a flirt of the forefinger across the throat
to signify that that was the way he would like to serve the murderous
tyrant. The man who thus grossly insulted him was Martella, the
deserter, who chuckled with delight when he heard the stinging answer
given to General Yozarro by Miss Starland. The others were too
interested in what was going on before them to observe the by-play.
General Yozarro set his teeth, and took consolation in the thought:

"General Bambos will give him to me and I will punish him; I will do
the same with Captain Guzman for aiding the foul ingrate."

But the Dictator never did either. Jack Starland was not the one to
forget the service of his friends. He had no trouble in persuading
Martella to engage himself as one of the firemen on the _Warrenia_,
for wages that were three-fold what he had received--when he did
receive them which was not often--in his own country. Something in the
nature of a compromise was made with Captain Guzman. He could not be
induced to go so far as the great Republic of the North, but halte