t as we were rising, however, a servant brought
in a note for his master. Don Pedro's brow darkened as he read it. 'It
is from Carlos,' said he, folding it up, 'and informs me that he will
be at home to-night, and will call for you, Clara--for it seems he has
been informed of your visit here, and is determined that it shall be
as short as possible. We must work quick then.'

"'But what is to be done?' I inquired.

"'You need do nothing at present but keep Clara company, while I go to
town to see Capt. Hopkins. We will arrange some plan.'

"Clara and I passed the morning as you may imagine; it seemed but a
few minutes from Pedro's departure for the city, till his return in
company with my skipper.

"'Ben,' shouted the latter, seizing my hand, 'may I be d--d but you're
a jewel--begging your pardon, Donna Clara, for swearing in your
presence, which I did not notice before.'

"When Clara retired to dress for dinner, Capt. Hopkins divulged to me
the plans which had been formed by him and Pedro. 'D'ye see, Ben, my
child, Don Pedro and I have arranged the matter in A No. 1 style; and
if we can only work the traverse, it'll be magnificent--and I don't
very well see why we can't. To day is Thursday, you know. Well, I
shall hoist my last box of sugar aboard to-morrow night, and, after
dark, Don Pedro is going to run a boat alongside with his plunder and
valuables. Your sweetheart must go home, it appears, but before she
goes you must make an arrangement with her to be at a certain window
of Alvarez' house, Pedro will tell her which, at twelve o'clock
Saturday night. You and her brother will be under it ready to receive
her; and when you have got the lady, you will bring her aboard the
ship, which shall be ready to cut and run, I tell you; up killock,
sheet home, and I'll defy all the cutters in Havana to overhaul us
with an hour's start! Those chaps in Stockholm are almighty
particular about your health, if your papers show that you left Havana
after the first of June, and so, to pull the wool over their eyes, and
save myself a long quarantine, I was intending to stop at Boston and
get a new clearance, so it'll be no trouble at all to set you all
ashore, for Don Pedro and his sister will not wish to go to Sweden;
and my second mate, I suppose, will want to get married and leave me.
Now, Ben, my boy, that's what I call a XX plan; no scratch brand about
that; superfine, and no mistake, and entitled to debenture.'

"'Excellen