t I zay. I hurry on mit my
long ofercoat and hold mine pistol deep in mine--mine--how you zay?"

"Pocket."

"Yes, in mine pawket, and I come dthree steps by a time up here to
your door."

"Heavens!" I say, "did you want to shoot me?"

"No, I vould safe you!"

"What was the pistol for?"

"You zee a Peruvian vill dthink qvick by a time like zo--he vill zay:
'I must safe dthe life of Senorita--dthere vill be boats, but dthere
vill be many to crowd in and all vill be lost. So I vill take von
leedle boat and I put dtherein Madame Steele and Senorita; if any
people try to growd in, I hold dthem back; if any inseest, I shoot
dthem dead, and safe Senorita.'"

"Very humane of you.--Senor Noma," I call out suddenly, as that fiery
gentleman is passing by, "I want to hear how heroic _you_ were last
night."

"Ah, mees," says the Guatemalan deprecatingly, as he stops before us,
"I did sit one meeserable quarter-hour by the rail with two life
presairvairs and try to raimember _one_ Ave Maria."

Acting on Mrs. Steele's wise suggestion, I keep the Peruvian at bay as
much as possible; but this is not so easy as it might seem, and my
best safeguard is to stay with Mrs. Steele every moment and insist I
understand only English. Baron de Bach observes a day or two after
this:

"Senorita's knowledge of French and Jherman ees better zome days dthan
odthers. But it ees gude for me that I vill learn spik zo beautiful
Eenglish."

"Forgif me, Senorita," he says, beginning afresh after a pause, "but
_vhat_ blue eyes you haf!"

"You are colour blind, Baron," observes Mrs. Steele, with a quiet
smile. The Peruvian starts slightly. Had he forgotten her?

"Madame----" he begins.

"Hush!" I say, with uplifted finger, "I hear the bells of San Blas."

Mrs. Steele shades her eyes with one little grey-gloved hand, and
looks intently towards the undulating outline of the coast. The flood
of sunshine that bathes the world is flung back ceaselessly from the
shimmering sea, till the poor eyes of mortals are dazed and blinded
with the shifting splendour.

Beyond, the rugged coast of misty purple has rest and charm for the
dazzled vision. There is a sympathetic interest in Mrs. Steele's
beautiful face, and I knew her fancy, like my own, had restored the
ancient Jesuit mission to the far-off headland, and the legend of
consecrated bells--that still ring out from a tower long since
crumbled--is fresh and vivid in her memory.

"I really belie