sides were
he so minded. It was not to content himself with general promises that
Hillyard had brought the _Dragonfly_ to Palma.

He turned suddenly towards Jose Medina with a broad laugh, and clapped
him heartily upon the back.

"So you do not remember me, Senor Jose?"

Medina was puzzled. He took a step nearer to Hillyard. Then he shook his
head, and apologised with a smile.

"I am to blame, senor. As a rule, my memory is not at fault. But on this
occasion--yes."

Through the apology ran a wariness, some fear of a trick, some hint of
an incredulity.

"Yet we have met."

"Senor, it must be so."

"Do you remember, Senor Jose, your first venture?" asked Hillyard.

"Surely."

"A single sailing-felucca beached at one o'clock in the morning on the
flat sand close to Benicassim."

Jose Medina did not answer. But the doubt which his politeness could not
quite keep out of his face was changing into perplexity. This history of
his first cargo so far was true.

"That was more than thirteen years ago," Hillyard continued. "Thirteen
years last April."

Jose Medina nodded. Date, place, hour, all were correct. His eyes were
fixed curiously upon his visitor, but there was no recognition in them.

"There were two carts waiting, to carry the tobacco up to the hills."

"Two?" Jose Medina interrupted sharply. "Let me think! That first cargo!
It is so long ago."

Medina reflected carefully. Here was a detail of real importance which
would put this Senor Hillyard to the test--if only he could himself
remember. It was his first venture, yes! But there had been so many like
to it since. Still--the very first. He ought to remember that! And as he
concentrated his thoughts the veil of the years was rent, and he saw, he
saw quite clearly the white moonlit beach, the felucca with its mast
bent like a sapling in a high wind, and the great yard of the sail
athwart the beam of the boat, the black shadow of it upon the sand, and
the carts--yes, the carts!

"There were two carts," he agreed, and a change was just faintly audible
in his voice--a change for which up till now Hillyard had listened with
both his ears in vain. A ring of cordiality, a suggestion that the
barriers of reserve were breaking down.

"Yes, senor, there were two carts."

Medina was listening intently now. Would his visitor go on with the
history of that night!

And Hillyard did go on.

"The tobacco barrels were packed very quickly into the carts, and