going to catch it from the north-east
to-night. If we do, our position is not as good as before. I don't feel
afraid of her, if we only get clear of this infernal coast," said the
Skipper, as he rolled up his chart, and repaired on deck again.

During this time, Manuel, who, had given the crew some very acceptable
hot cakes for supper, was sitting upon the windlass, earnestly engaged,
with his broken English, recounting an adventure he had on the coast of
Patagonia, a few years previous, while serving on board a whaleman, to
a shipmate who sat at his left. It was one of those incidents which
frequently occur to the men attached to vessels which visit that coast
for the purpose of providing a supply of wood and water, and which would
require too much space to relate here.

"Did you run, Manuel?" said the listening shipmate.

"What else did me do? If I no run, I'd not be here dis night, because
I be make slave, or I be killed wid club. Patagonian don't care for
flag--nor not'in' else--I trust--e my leg, an' he get to de boat jus'
when cap-i-tan come to rescue."

"Was you on board an Englishman then, Manuel?" inquired the shipmate.

"Yes, I'm always sail in English ship, because I can get protection from
flag and consul, where I go--any part of globe," said he.

"I never liked this sailing among barbarous nations; they've no respect
for any flag, and would just as lief imprison an Englishman or an
American as they would a dog. They're a set of wild barbarians, and if
they kill a fellow, there's no responsibility for it. It's like a parcel
of wolves chasing a lamb, and there's no finding them after they've
killed it. But they give a fellow his rights in Old England and the
States. A man's a man there, rich or poor, and his feelings are just as
much his own as anybody's. It's a glorious thing, this civilization,
and if the world keeps on, there'll be no danger of a fellow's being
imprisoned and killed among these savages. They're a cowardly set, for
nobody but cowards are afraid of their own actions. Men neither imprison
nor kill strangers, that don't fear the injustice of their own acts. You
may smoke that in your pipe, Manuel, for I've heard great men say so.
But you'd been done making dough-nuts then, Manuel, if they'd got hold
o' you."

"Never catch Manuel among Patagonians, again; they not know what the
flag be, nor they can't read de registrum ticket, if they know'd where
England was," said Manuel; and just as