that indentation
known upon modern maps as "Montijo Bay."

She has long since rounded Cabo Mala, and is standing in for the port of
Panama. With a full crew--most of them old and able seamen--no fear but
she will reach it now.

Crozier in command, has restored Harry Blew to his old rank of first
officer; which so far from having forfeited, he is now deemed to doubly
deserve. But still weak from his long privation, the ex-man-o'-war's
man is excused from duty, Cadwallader doing it for him.

Harry is strong enough, however, to tell the young officers what they
are all ears to hear--the story of that _Flag of Distress_. Their time
hitherto taken up attending upon their _fiancees_, they have deferred
calling for the full account, which only the English sailor can give
them.

Now having passed Cabo Mala, as if with that promontory of bad repute
all evil were left behind, they are in the mood to listen to the
narration in all its details; and for this have summoned the chief
officer to their side.

"Your honours!" he begins, "it's a twisted-up yarn, from the start to
the hour ye hove in sight; an' if ye hadn't showed yerselves just in the
nick o' time, an' ta'en the twist out o' it, hard to say how 'twould 'a
ended. No doubt, in all o' us dyin' on that desert island, an' layin'
our bones there. Thank the Lord, for our delivery--'ithout any
disparagement to what's been done by both o' you, young gentlemen. For
that He must ha' sent you, an has had a guidin' hand throughout the
whole thing, I can't help thinkin', 'specially when I look back on the
scores o' chances that seemed goin' against the right, an' still sheered
round to it after all."

"True," assents Crozier, honouring the devout faith of the sailor.
"You're quite right in ascribing it to Divine interference. Certainly,
God's hand seems to have been extended in our favour. But go on!"

"Well, to commence at the beginnin', which is when you left me at San
Francisco. As I told Master Willie, that day he comed ashore in the
dingy, I war engaged to go chief mate in the Chili barque. She war then
a ship; afterward converted as ye see, through our shortness o' hands.

"When I went aboard her, an' for sev'ral days after, I war the only
thing in the shape o' sailor she'd got. Then her captain--that poor
crazed creetur below--put advertisements in the papers, offering big
pay; the which, as I then supposed, brought eleven chaps, callin'
themselves sailors,