onging to the off-watch retire to the
forecastle, and there betake themselves to their bunks; while the others
scatter about the decks.

Gil Gomez remains at the wheel, his time not yet being up; Hernandez
beside him. For some moments, the two are silent, their brows shadowed
with gloom. It is not pleasant to lose fifty thousand dollars apiece;
and something like this have they lost within the last ten minutes.
Still there is a reflection upon which they can fall back well
calculated to soothe them--other bright skies ahead.

Gomez first returning to think of this, says:

"Never mind, _amigo_. There will be money enough to serve our present
purposes all the same. And for the future we can both build on a good
sure foundation."

"On what?"

"On our `Castles in Spain!'"

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

COLDLY RECEIVED.

The _mal de mer_ is no respecter of persons. Voyagers of every age, and
either sex, must pay toll to it; the which it indiscriminately, if not
equally, exacts from the strong robust youth, and the frail delicate
maiden. Even beauty must submit to this merciless malady; at whose
touch red lips turn pale, and rose-tinted cheeks show wan and wasted.
Afflicting, on first acquaintance with it, it is always more or less
disagreeable, and ever ready at offering its hand to those who go down
to the sea in ships--that hand whose very touch is palsy.

The voyage Carmen Montijo and Inez Alvarez are now making is not their
first. Both have been at sea before--in the passage out from Spain.
But this does not exempt them from the terrible infliction, and both
suffer from it.

Stricken down by it, they are for several days confined to the cabin;
most of the time to their state-room; and, as ill-luck would have it,
without any one of their own sex to wait upon them--a want due to
circumstances partially accidental, but wholly unexpected. The Chilian
skipper, not accustomed to have a stewardess on his ship, had never
thought of such a thing; his whole attention being taken up in
collecting that crew, so difficult to obtain; while their own
waiting-maid, who was to have accompanied the young ladies on their
voyage, failed them at the eleventh hour; having preferred undertaking a
journey of a different kind--not to Spain, but the altar of Hymen. At
the last moment of embarkation, she was missing; her Californian
_amante_ having persuaded her to remain behind.

Withal, the lady voyagers have not been so badly