"That will do," rejoins the skipper, contentedly. "Now, Senor Enrique--
I see that's your name--answer me in all candour. Do you think you are
capable of acting as _piloto_?"

"By that you mean mate, I take it?"

"Yes; it is _piloto_ in Spanish."

"Well, capten; 'tain't for me to talk big o' myself. But I've been over
thirty year 'board a British man-o'-war--more'n one o' 'em--an' if I
wan't able to go mate in a merchanter, I ought to be condemned to be
cook's scullion for the rest o' my days. If your honour thinks me
worthy o' bein' made first officer o' the _Condor_, I'll answer for it
she won't stray far out o' her course while my watch be on."

"_Bueno_! Senor Enrique--B--blee. What is it?" asks the Chilian,
re-opening the note, and vainly endeavouring to pronounce the Saxon
surname.

"Blew--Harry Blew."

"Ah, Bloo--_azul, esta_?"

"No, capten. Not that sort o' blue. In Spanish, my name has a
different significance. It means, as we say o' a gale after it's blowed
past--it `blew.' When it's been a big un, we say it `blew great guns.'
Now ye understan'?"

"Yes; perfectly. Well, Senor Bloo, to come to an understanding about
the other matter. I'm willing to take you as my first officer, if you
don't object to the wages I intend offering you--fifty dollars a month,
and everything found."

"I'm agreeable to the tarms."

"_Basta_! When will it be convenient for you to enter in your duties?"

"For that matter, this minute. I only need to go ashore to get my kit.
When that's stowed, I'll be ready to tackle on to work."

"_Muy bien_! senor; you can take my boat for it. And if you see any
sailors who want to join, I authorise you to engage them at double the
usual wages. I wish to get away as soon as a crew can be shipped. But
when you come back we'll talk more about it. Call at Senor Silvestre's
office, and tell him he needn't look for me till a later hour. Say I've
some business that detains me aboard. _Hasta Luego_!"

Thus courteously concluding, the Chilian skipper returns to his cabin,
leaving the newly appointed _piloto_ free to look after his own affairs.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

THE "BLUE-PETER."

The ex-man-o'-war's man, now first officer of a merchant-vessel, and
provided with a boat of his own, orders off the skiff he has kept in
waiting, after tossing into it two dollars--the demanded fare. Then
slipping down into the _Condor's_ gig, sculls himself ashore.

Leaving hi