down the small cuddy in the afterpart of the felucca, where
was a low, stifling hole of a cabin, dank with stale tobacco-smoke, and
smelling awfully of rats and roaches. There was a little round table in
the middle, and on one side was a single berth, with some dirty bedding,
which had not been cleaned, apparently, since the vessel was built.
Light was shed from a skylight above.

Captain Brand gave a sniff of disgust as he entered this floating
sanctum of Don Ignacio, but, without remark, seated himself on a canvas
stool, and waved a perfumed cambric kerchief before his nose.

Commander Sanchez, catching the inspiration, merely observed that it was
a little close certainly, and not so spacious as the superb cabin of the
schooner, and that sometimes, when lying in a calm off the lee side of
Cuba, it was hot enough to melt the tail off a brass monkey; but yet it
was his duty, and he did not particularly mind it.

Hereupon Captain Brand requested Don Ignacio to produce his papers, and
they were presently laid upon the table. For a few minutes the pirate
was absorbed in running his cold eyes over the accounts--making
pencil-notes on the margins, and comparing them with a memorandum he
took from his pocket; but at last he threw himself back and exclaimed,

"_Compadre_, the account of old Moreno, at the Havana, is correct to a
real--three hundred and twelve doubloons and eight hard dollars. Yours,
however, has some few inaccuracies--double commissions charged here and
there; all losses and sales charged to me, and all profits credited to
you."

Don Ignacio spread out the palms of both his hands toward his
companion, as if to exorcise such unjust charges from the brain of his
confederate.

"_O si, si, compadre!_ it is as I state, and you know it is true; but,
nevertheless, a few dozens of ounces more or less makes no difference;
and, to make short work, I am ready to pay. But," said Captain Brand,
laying a hand on the heavy bag of money beside him, "though I am quite
ready to cancel my debts in hard cash here on the spot, yet, as I am
bound on a long cruise--Heaven only knows where--I would prefer to keep
the gold and pay you in something else."

Don Ignacio threw his head back and fixed his eye like a parrot on the
captain, waiting to hear farther.

"What have I on hand besides gold? Well, there are a few bales of
Mexican cochineal, and English broadcloths, and some cases of French
silks, which you can have at a fai