y introducing himself as Commander
Luis y Albuquerque.

Lieutenant Fernandez was in a much more subdued mood when he returned
than he had been upon his departure from the _Thetis_: probably he had
done some hard thinking in the interim, and had come to recognise the
possibility that trouble might be looming ahead of him; at all events
his manner was all courtesy and politeness as he again stepped in
through the gangway.

"Senor Fernandez," said Don Luis, "I am very much afraid that, from what
Don Juan Singleton has told me, there has been a most serious mistake
somewhere, and that we have thus been betrayed into unwittingly
inflicting a most unprovoked affront upon an English gentleman. Senor
Singleton has, however," with a bow to Jack, "been good enough to accept
my explanation and apologies, and I therefore venture to hope that we
may now consider the incident as closed. But Senor Singleton insists--
quite justifiably, I think--that we shall satisfy ourselves as to the
falsity of the statement that he is carrying munitions of war; and I
have therefore sent for you to accompany me on a tour of inspection
through this yacht, which we must make so thorough that there shall be
no possibility of any aspersions being hereafter cast upon the integrity
of Don Juan or his vessel. And now, Senor," to Jack, "we are ready to
accompany you."

"Very well," said Jack. "Where would you like to begin--forward, or
aft?"

"Perhaps we may as well begin forward, and work our way aft," answered
the Spanish Commander.

"Right," acquiesced Jack. "Captain Milsom, be so good as to give
instructions for two or three men to attend us below with lanterns.
Meanwhile, gentlemen, perhaps you will give my boats an overhaul. I
will have the canvas covers stripped off them."

"Oh no, Senor," protested Don Luis, "there is not the slightest
necessity for us to go to such extreme lengths as that; for, assuming
for a moment that you actually had contraband on board, you would not be
in the least likely to carry it stowed in your boats."

Now this offer of Jack's was a piece of "bluff", for his boats were the
only places that he did not wish the Spaniards to examine, since in one
of them was stowed his submarine, the sight of which he knew would be
likely to give rise to renewed suspicions. And, as we have seen, the
"bluff" worked to perfection, possibly in consequence of the slight, but
none the less perceptible, tone of sarcasm in which Ja