the schooner, the other to
his helmet; he breathes through that. They are pumping air through it
every moment."

"Yes," says the Baron, having regained his equilibrium. "You cannot
zee, but he haf a basket tie vidth a cord to hees belt; he fill it
vidth shaills, and vhen he make a pull dthey draw it up and empty it.
Zee, now!"

He points to the steamer where, hand over hand, they haul in a cable.
At the end is the square wicker basket filled with great pearl shell
oysters. They turn them out and lower the receptacle for another load.
The Baron throws some money to a man in the schooner, and soon three
or four pearl oysters are tossed into our boat. The Mexican's knife is
again called into requisition and the shells are forced open. Nothing
in the first--nothing in the second--nothing in th----stop! the Baron
has found a pearl!

[Illustration: "THE BARON HAS FOUND A PEARL!"--_Page 112_]

"It ees von chance out of a dthousand!" he says, amazed. "I nefer
found von before--but it ees so leedle!"

"Never mind!" I say with enthusiasm. "We've been pearl-fishing and
we've found a pearl!"

Mrs. Steele is examining it minutely; the Baron leans over to me and
says low, in German:

"It shall be set for you in diamonds, Fraeulein; it will remind you of
spilt cocoanut milk and pearl-fishing in Acapulco's shining bay--it
will mean to me a woman, Blanca, fine and fair, I found on the ocean.
As I think of all it signifies to me, I believe I must ask you to let
me keep my pearl," and he gazes into my eyes with such a world of
meaning in his own, I look away and trail my hand in the water. "What
say you, Fraeulein?" he persists. "I have travelled so far to find it,
I have so nearly missed it, and here at last it lies in my
possession."

"Are you so sure it is in your possession?" I say, looking across to
Mrs. Steele, who is rolling the tiny treasure about in her palm.

"At least," he says, "it is within the reach of a strong arm, and if a
jewel begged is not generously given, it can be snatched out of a
capricious hand, if only for safer keeping----" and the Peruvian's
deep eyes look into my half-averted face.

"My friend does not speak German," I say; "she will think you very
rude." Then in English, "Please let me see the pearl again, Mrs.
Steele."

"It is absolutely flawless," she says, holding it out to me. The
Peruvian intercepts it. He draws out of an inner pocket a gold-mounted
letter-case and a book of cigarette pa