bring about some fiasco out of sheer devilry. If I'd had a boat I
should have cut ashore there and then, and made off to Talaiti de Talt
without delaying a single moment. And as it was, with no boat, I more
than once got to my legs with the intention of swimming, but could
never quite screw up my mind as to whether it was really advisable to
do so.

I kept cursing myself for this womanish indecision; but even that
didn't improve matters. I could not figure out what to do for the best.
And consequently I stayed where I was, and mumbled and mowed in black
fury.

Haigh was in all about an hour and a half gone, and returned very much
cock-a-hoop with himself. He was brought on board by a smart boat rowed
by four men; and telling them to wait, he came down below.

"Hullo, Cospatric! you're looking as black as a Soudanese stoker with
the stomach-ache. Did ye think I'd been tampering with the interests of
the firm? Not a bit of it, man. Thanks to his own natural cussedness,
I've just fixed your schoolmaster beautifully. The stars in their
courses are backing up our stupendous luck. Some gentlemen of the
anarchist persuasion have been blowing up men and women and marble
seats in the Plaza Real at Barcelona. Indiscriminate shooting on the
part of the troops followed, and cables were sent to all parts to watch
for escaping assassins. The affair happened after the _Antiguo
Mahones_ sailed, so far as I can make out; but, of course, to the
Spanish official mind that is a mere matter of detail. In these cases
Spain expects that every man this day will exceed his duty. Weems being
the only foreigner on board, and having the looks of a man who would
not steal a potato, was naturally spotted at once, and a sub-officer of
Carabineros demanded his passport. Weems, not knowing a word of
Catalan, looked helpless. An interested mob collected, and stared and
made suggestions. None of them could speak a word of English. Weems got
pale, and offered the Carabinero half a peseta. Had the bribe been a
big one and tendered privately, it might have carried weight; but as it
was, the offer was an insult.

"At this point I pushed through the crowd, and offered my services as
an interpreter. I can imagine the little worm was never so humbly
grateful in his life; but when I told him that his passport was wanted,
he was the cocksure schoolmaster ape in a moment. Such a thing was not
requisite for travelling in Spain; it was utterly superfluous; I m