, or in de evening, or de next day as vous please," said
Mr Ferong, bowing, and smiling, as he spoke, in the mode habitual to
him.

"It will never do to take people by storm in that fashion," exclaimed
Jack. "Unless we can get back to-night we had better put off our visit
till to-morrow morning."

Terence, who was modesty itself in such a case, agreed with him. Mr
Ferong, however, laughed at their scruples, assuring them that Mr and
Mrs Bradshaw would be delighted to see them, whether strangers or not,
that he would be answerable for all consequences, and settled the matter
by sending off a black boy to order the carriage forthwith, and to fetch
their carpet-bags from the inn, where they had been deposited on
landing. In the meantime Jack and Terence found several acquaintances
among the visitors, chiefly naval and military officers, assembled in
Johnny Ferong's reception-room, forming the lower storey of his store or
warehouse. There were also a few merchant-skippers, and civilian agents
of estates, clerics and others. Countless glass cases, exhibiting wares
of all sorts, and goods of every description in bales, packages, boxes,
and casks, were piled up, or scattered about the place, serving for
seats for the guests, most of whom were smoking and sipping sangaree.
While Jack was talking to an old shipmate he unexpectedly met, a skipper
and a merchant were engaged in an earnest conversation near him, and he
could not help overhearing some of the remarks which dropped from them.

"If Captain Crowhurst can manage to run his cargo before the brig's
character is suspected it will be an easy affair for him, but if not he
will find it a difficult job. They have got half-a-dozen armed craft,
which will watch her pretty sharply, and I know those mongrel Spaniards
well. If they catch her they'll not scruple to sink her, and shoot
every man on board."

These remarks were made by the skipper.

"But the _Sarah Jane_ is a fast craft, and will, I should hope, be able
to keep out of their way," said the merchant, in an anxious voice. "We
should be unable to recover her insurance should she be sunk, I fear."

"As certainly as the poor fellows who may be shot would be unable to
come to life again," observed the skipper dryly. "To my mind it's not
fair to send men on such an adventure."

"They are aware of what they are about, and know the risk they run,"
said the merchant.

"The captain and supercargo may, but not the