confidence in him
as soon as I saw him.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Pilot," I said, giving him my hand, when I
went into the pilot-house after assuring myself that the boats were
well secured.

"Thank you, Captain Alick," he replied with a smile.

"As you seem to know my name, it is no more than fair that I should
know yours," I replied, as good-naturedly as he had spoken.

"I am called Captain Cayo, but my name is Cazador, which is the Spanish
for 'Hunter.' But it don't make much difference what you call me. Cayo
is Spanish for Key, and people here are so used to the word that they
have given it me for a name. Where are you bound, Captain Alick?"

"To New Orleans, or rather we are bound to overhaul the little steamer,
just like this one, which left here not more than half an hour before
we arrived," I replied.

"I should have thought it was the same steamer if I had seen both of
them at the same time," replied Captain Cayo, who had taken the wheel
when he first came into the pilot-house, for he had been engaged to
take the Sylvania through the North-West Channel, as it is called. "You
wish to overhaul the Islander, do you?"

"Her owner is on board of this steamer, and he is very anxious to get
on board of her," I answered.

"Very well; if the Sylvania has the speed we will overhaul her, Captain
Alick," added the pilot.

"Where did you learn my name, Captain Cayo, for you called me by it
before any one had used it on board; and those who came off in the boat
with you invariably call me Captain Garningham?" I inquired, taking up
one of the points which had attracted my attention from the first.

"I heard you called so by a gentleman who arrived here by the morning
steamer from Cedar Keys."

"Who was the gentleman?" I asked, with interest.

"I don't remember his name, if I heard it at all."

"What time did the Islander get to Key West?"

"Not more than two hours before the Sylvania. I went on board of her to
offer my services as pilot. The captain did not want a pilot, for he
had a Conch on board who used to live in the city."

"Then this man is now piloting the Islander through this channel?"

"I suppose he is; but I don't think he is a pilot, for he is taking the
steamer a long way to the eastward of the bar-buoy. She went pretty
near a shoal with only five feet of water on it. I shall make one
sea-mile in going five compared with the course of the Islander."

"I am very glad to hear it. What sort