ard smiled.

"Then answer your own question. These men, while unloading a
contraband cargo in a port of Mexico near the southern border, grew
too merry in a wineshop, and let it be known where they were bound
when again they put to sea. The news, after some delay, found its
way to our capital. At once the navy of the republic was
despatched to investigate the matter. It is the navy of Santa
Marina, ladies and gentlemen, which at this moment guards the
entrance of the bay." And Senor Gonzales waved an ironic hand in
the direction of the little steamer lying off the island,

"On the way here I put in at Panama, where certain inquiries were
satisfactorily answered. There were those in that port who had
made a shrewd guess at the destination of the party which had
shipped on the _Rufus Smith_. I then pursued my course to Leeward.
But admit, my friends, that I have not by my arrival, caused you
any material loss. Except that I have unfortunately been compelled
to present you to yourselves in the character of--as says the young
lady--pirates--madam, I speak under correction--I have done you no
injury, eh? And that for the simple reason that you have not
discovered what you sought, and hence can not be required to
surrender it."

We looked at one another doubtfully. The ambiguous words of the
Spaniard, the something humorous and mocking which lay behind his
courtly manner, put us quite in the dark.

"Senor Gonzales," replied the Scotchman, after a moment's
hesitation, "it is true that so far only a negligible amount of
what we came to find has rewarded us. But I can not in honesty
conceal from you that we know where to look for the rest of it, and
that we had certainly expected to leave the island with it in our
possession."

The dark indolent eyes of our visitor grew suddenly keen.
Half-veiled by the heavy lashes, they searched the face of Dugald
Shaw. It seemed that what they found in that bold and open
countenance satisfied them. His own face cleared again.

"I think we speak at cross-purposes, Mr. Shaw," he said
courteously, "and that we may better understand each other, I am
going to tell you a little story. At about this season, two years
ago, the navy of Santa Marina, the same which now lies off the
island, was making a voyage of inspection along the coast of the
republic. It was decided to include Leeward in the cruise, as it
had been unvisited for a considerable time. I hold no naval
rank--in