n lying bleeding in a mangrove
thicket; and found, too, in his belt, snugly stowed away, a lot of
gleaming jewels, with a sapphire gem of priceless value on the finger of
his bloody hand. But never mind, Hardy! You will hear more of that man
one of these days, and you will have no cause for regrets--though he
will, perhaps; and, meanwhile, let him wander in quest of fresh
villainies over Spanish South America.

"Well, gentlemen," resumed Commodore Cleveland, "although I have doubts
whether the mangled carcass we saw in the sail was the captain of that
notorious 'Centipede,' yet I felt confident at the time, and do now,
that it was scarcely possible for him or a man of his crew to have
escaped our fire and the water and rocks combined. So that evening, when
the land-wind made, we tripped anchor and sailed away from the coast of
Darien."

"Come, my friends," said Piron, in a low, tremulous voice, rising as he
spoke, "we must not push Cleveland too far to-night, for it is getting
late, you know, and they keep early hours on board men-of-war."

"No hurry, Piron! I'll talk to you all night, if you have the patience
to listen to me. No? Then I'll have the boat manned." He touched a
bell-rope which hung over his head, and the cabin door opened. "Orderly,
my compliments to the officer of the watch, and desire him to call away
the barge."

While some of the gentlemen in the forward cabin left the table, and
stood about in groups chatting till the boat was reported, Piron put his
arm around the commodore's belt, and they moved aft into the starboard
stateroom. Little Mouse was lying sound asleep on the elegant cot, with
all his clothes on, but with a smile on his lips, and dreaming, maybe,
of the dear widowed mother he would one of those days make proud of
him.

"Cleveland, my old friend, tell me more of that young Darcantel!"

"Hist! Piron, don't wake little Tiny! There's nothing to tell more than
he is my adopted nephew, and the son of the gentleman who occupies that
stateroom opposite. But when we go out to Escondido I'll tell you about
his father, who has led a very adventurous life."

"Well, good-night! You will bring young Darcantel with you, and this
little rogue, too, here in the cot. My wife and her sister will be
delighted to see you all. Good-night!"

As the "Monongahela's" bell struck eight for midnight, the commodore's
guests got in the barge and pulled toward the shore.

At the same time, a light gig, wit