ars being shipped, a couple of boat hooks held the boat fast at the
foot of the starboard side-ladder. This done, the person in the stern
sheets arose and prepared to ascend the brig's side.

"Petticoats, by thunder!" muttered the mate. "What does this mean,
cap'n?"

Captain Morris was evidently surprised at the sex of his visitor, but
he assisted and welcomed her on board with the frank courtesy of a
seaman. The light of a battle lantern that stood upon the harness
cask, displayed the dark but handsome features of a young Mexican
senorita, whose small and graceful hand, sparkling with rings,
gathered her silken _rebosa_ around her symmetrical figure, in folds
that would have enchanted an artist.

"Senor captain," said she, "I bear you a message from Martinez. He
bade me tell you to land half your cargo here to-morrow, as before
agreed upon. The remainder goes to Santa Rosara, fifty miles to the
northward, where he awaits you with a chosen band."

"Senorita," replied the captain, with hesitation, "it were ungallant
to express a doubt. But ours is a perilous business, and on the mere
word of a stranger--though that stranger be an accomplished lady----"

"O, I come furnished with credentials, senor," interrupted the lady,
with a smile; "there is a letter from Martinez."

Captain Morris hastily perused the letter which the lady handed him.
Its contents vouched for her fidelity, and, intimating that the lady
was a dear friend of his, and likely to be soon intimately connected
with him, committed her to the charge of the captain, and requested
him to bring her on to Santa Rosara on board the brig.

Morris immediately expressed his sense of the honor done him, and
escorted the senorita below, where he abandoned his state room and
cabin to her use. Pardon G. Simpkins walked his watch in great ill
humor, muttering to himself incessantly.

"What in the blazes keeps these here women folks continually emergin'
from their aliment and mixin' into other spheres? They're well enough
ashore, but on soundin's and blue water they beat old Nick. And aboard
a _contrabandista_, too! It's enough to make a Quaker kick his
grandmother. Howsomdever, Morris is just soft-headed fool enough to
like it, and think it all fine fun. I shouldn't wonder if he was ass
enough to get spliced one of these days, and take his wife to sea. I
think I see a doggarytype of myself took as mate of a vessel that
sails with a cap'n's wife aboard."

And, ch