Germans were bound to win if we didn't get
a couple of million men across in pretty short order. I am thirty years
old, Captain, strong and healthy, and I'm a good American. That's why
I want to get home. I've told you the truth about being robbed. I don't
mind losing the money,--only a couple of thousand pesos, you know,--but
if you chuck me off at the next port of call, Captain Trigger, I'll
curse you to my dying day. I'm willing to work, I'm willing to be put in
irons, I'm willing to get along on bread and water, but you've just got
to land me in the United States. You are an Englishman. I suppose you've
got relatives over in France fighting the Germans. Maybe you've had some
one killed who is dear to you."

"My youngest son was killed in Flanders," said the Captain simply.

"I am sorry, sir. Well, for every Englishman and every Frenchman who has
died over there, my country ought to supply some one to take his place.
I expect to be one of those men, Captain. I have no other excuse for
coming aboard your ship as a stowaway."

The Captain still eyed him narrowly.

"I believe you are honest, young man. If I am deceived in you I shall
never trust the eyes of another man as long as I live. Sit down, Mr.
Percival. I shall put you to work, never fear, but in the meantime I am
very much interested in what you were doing up in the hills. You will
oblige me by going as fully as possible into all the details. I shall
not pass judgment on you until I've heard all of your story."

CHAPTER II.

Algernon Adonis Percival, civil and mining engineer, Cornell, had gone
through certain rather harsh stages of development in the mines of
Montana and later in the perilous districts of Northern Mexico. A year
or two prior to the breaking out of the great World War, he was sent
to South America to replace the general superintendent of a new
copper-mining enterprise in a remote section of the Andes, on
the Bolivian side of the mountains. Here he was in charge of the
heterogeneous horde of miners, labourers, structural workers and
assayists who were engaged in the development and extension of the vast
concession controlled by his company.

His description of the camp or town in which this motley assemblage
dwelt from one year's end to the other, far from civilization, was
illuminating to the two sea-faring men. It must be confessed, however,
that a sound reluctance to swallow the tale without the proverbial grain
of salt ca