factions here are even more bitter and unscrupulous than
they were in Chili, impossible as that may seem to you."

"The affair was a very easy one, sir, for it was by bribery rather than
force that I got away." And he then related the manner in which he had
been befriended by Don Filippo Conchas and his cousin.

"A noble young fellow!" the admiral exclaimed when he brought his story to
a conclusion. "Of course there are fine fellows among the Spaniards as
among other nations, but we have heard only of their worst side, that told
by people who hated them bitterly. Well, I shall like them better in
future, and I hope some day that I may run across that young fellow and
his wife--no doubt she is his wife long ere this. Let us call Crosbie in.
He is a fine fellow, and I am very certain he will be heartily glad to
have you with him, for at present he has not a soul he can rely on."

On Captain Crosbie's arrival the admiral told him that Stephen was ready
to set to work at once, in any capacity in which he could make himself
useful.

"I shall be glad indeed of his aid," the captain said, "for there is not
an officer or man who knows his work."

"Knows!" the admiral repeated; "there is not a man who has the faintest
idea of it. I should have liked Stephen, above all things, for our first
lieutenant, but our complement is complete."

"I think you might manage it," Captain Crosbie said after a few minutes'
reflection. "No captain has yet been appointed to command the _Carolina_.
You might appoint Morales to it. He belongs to a powerful family here, and
they would be pleased at his promotion. So it might be a politic step, as
well as serving our purpose by making a vacancy for Embleton."

"That would be just the thing," the admiral said.

"I am sure I should be delighted," Captain Crosbie went on, "for Morales
is of very little use; and with Mr. Embleton to aid me I should be able to
get the crew into something like shape in half the time that it would take
me to do it single-handed."

"Very well, then; the thing is done. I have full powers to make any
changes and appointments in the fleet, so I will write out the orders at
once. If you will send Lieutenant Morales in here, Captain Crosbie, I will
announce his promotion to him and tell him to take up his duties at once,
and then Embleton can enter upon his as soon as he has provided himself
with a uniform."

Stephen was about to leave the room with Captain Crosbie when