ver mind," said Sir Humphrey, "so long as it was honest. What did
they say, captain?"

"Said they didn't quite know what to make of you, sir; but they all
agreed that you looked a bit hard in the mouth, and bull-doggy--that's
what they called it. The first mate said, too, that he quite agreed
with them, for he could see that if ever it came to a fight with any of
the natives, two-foots or four-foots, you'd never flinch."

"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey; "but I also hope we may never be put to
the test."

"But--"

The captain stopped.

"Oh, there's a _but_," said Brace merrily. "It would have been quite a
decent character if it had not been for that _but_."

"What was the _but_, captain?" asked Sir Humphrey.

"He couldn't say how you'd come up to the scratch if it was trouble with
the long twisters that swarm up the rivers and in the damp forests of
these parts."

"Snakes?" suggested Brace.

"That's right, sir: boa constructors, as the showman said they was
called, because they constructed so many pleasing images with their
serpentile forms."

"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "to be perfectly frank, I don't know myself
how I should behave under such circumstances, for I have a perfect dread
of serpents of all kinds. The poisonous ones are a horror to me."

"Or anyone else, sir," growled the captain. "I'd rather have a set-to
with one of the tigers here."

"Tigers!" cried Brace; "there are no tigers in the New World."

"They call 'em tigers here, sir, though they've got spots instead of
stripes. Jaggers I suppose is the proper name. Fierce beasts they are
too. But poisonous snakes--ugh! They give me the creeps. But there,
these things always get away from you if they can."

"Let us change the subject," said Sir Humphrey; "I am quite satisfied
with your men's judgment, Captain Banes, and I daresay we shall become
very good friends."

"Of course, sir," said the bluff man addressed. "I'll answer for them,
as I told them I'd answer for you two gents. By the way, I hear the
Yankee chap wants to charter a vessel for some such a voyage as you
gentlemen mean to make."

"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; and the brothers related their interviews of
the morning.

"Want'll have to be his master," said the captain, who had listened,
smiling grimly during the narration. "I don't see myself going on such
a trip with him. I took a dislike to that chap as soon as I saw him.
Well, I wish him luck. Then if it's all