talk freely of the treasure. It became the main topic of
conversation during the watch which he usually sat out with Stubbs,
after his own.

The ship's log of the remainder of this long journey would read as
uninterestingly as that of an ocean liner. Day succeeded day, and week
followed week, with nothing to disturb the quiet of the trip. A stop
was made at Rio for coal, another after rounding the Horn (here they
did not have the excitement of even high seas), and another halfway up
the West coast. But at these places not a man was allowed to leave the
ship, Danbury, Wilson, and Stubbs themselves remaining on board in
fear of a possible attempt on the part of the mercenaries to land.

As a matter of fact, the latter were thoroughly frightened and did
their best by good behavior to offset the effect of their attempt.
They were obedient at drills, respectful to all, and as quiet as the
crew itself. This was as Stubbs had anticipated, but he on his side
gave no sign of relenting in the slightest until the day before they
sighted Choco Bay, where the landing was to be made. On the contrary,
by dark hints and suggestions he gave them to understand that certain
of them--and no one knew who was included in this generality--stood
actually in danger of prison sentences. So they outdid one another in
the hope of reinstating themselves. At the conclusion of what was to
be their last drill Stubbs called them to attention and sprung the
trap to which he had been gradually leading them. He studied them with
a face heavy with clouds.

"We are nearing our port," he drawled, "an' some of you are nearin'
the jail. An' a jail in these diggin's, my beauties, is a thing that
ain't no joke, 'cause they shets you up below ground where ye has only
your natural frien's the rats fer playmates,--rats as big as dogs an'
hungry as sharks, as ye might say. Sometimes the cap'n of these here
ports fergits ye--'specially if they's frien's er mine. If they thinks
of it, they brings yer sour bread an' water an' yer fights the rats
fer it; if they fergits, as they has a way er doin', you jus' stay
there until the rats gits stronger than you. Then, little by little,
yer goes. But they buries yer bones very partic'lar, if they finds
any. They takes their time in this country, they takes their time."

Several of the men in the rear huddled closer to one another. One or
two in the front row wiped the back of their hands over their brows.

"They can't ta