rdered Milsom, moving the handle to "Half speed ahead!"

"Lay aft, some hands, and stow the gangway ladder. Quartermaster, stand
by to dip our ensign to the cruiser as we pass her; and when she has
acknowledged it, haul it and the burgee down and stow them away in the
flag locker!"

"Are you acquainted with Senor Montijo and his family?" asked Jack
politely, addressing himself to Lieutenant Villacampa, who looked as
though he felt slightly uncomfortable and out of his element.

"I have not that honour, Senor," answered Villacampa, looking still more
uncomfortable.

"Then come up on the deck-house, and let me introduce you," said Jack.
"They are most delightful people, and I am sure they will be pleased to
know you. Your men had better consider the after deck as their end of
the ship, and make themselves as comfortable as they can there. She is
a fairly dry little ship, and I think they will be all right there."

Whereupon Villacampa gave a brief order to his men, and then followed
Jack up the ladder to the top of the deck-house, where he was duly made
known to its occupants--to the great gratification of Morillo, who
witnessed the little ceremony as the yacht swept past his boat. The
lieutenant was very cordially received, as had already been agreed upon
by those principally concerned; and, being a very pleasant-mannered and
agreeable young fellow, soon found that he was enjoying himself
amazingly.

"You have a fine, speedy little ship under you, Senor," he said, anxious
to make himself agreeable, as the yacht, having passed the cruiser and
opened out the harbour's mouth, quickened up her pace to fourteen knots.

"Y-es," admitted Jack, in that grudging, depreciatory tone of voice
which, for some inexplicable reason, so many Englishmen use when
speaking of their own property; "she is not bad, for her size. But a
knot or two more would be welcome, just now; for we are late in
starting, and we shall have our work cut out to make Mulata Bay before
dark. I have been taking a look at my chart, and I see that the place
lies inside a reef. Are you acquainted with the pilotage of that part
of the coast, Senor?"

"Oh yes, Senor!" answered the lieutenant; "I have been in and out of
Mulata Bay several times. That was chiefly why Captain Morillo selected
me to command the expedition. The navigation, however, is not
difficult; and, once through the Cayo Blanco passage, we shall be all
right."

"No doubt," agreed J