sgrace, in obedience to an unexpected and
most peremptory message from Spain. He attributed the whole business to
the machinations and misrepresentations of certain enemies in La Guayra;
and complained bitterly that if he had been allowed a little more time
he could have collected an ample sufficiency of evidence to have refuted
every one of the charges against him. He explained the whole affair to
me in full detail; but as it has no direct bearing upon my story I shall
not inflict the particulars upon the reader.

Upon our separating, somewhat late, I was intercepted by a messenger
from Don Felix, who, I was informed, wished to see me in his private
cabin. I joined him at once; and found that the business was that,
after thinking matters over further, he was now prepared to accept my
offer of assistance in the replacing of his spars if I would waive his
former refusal, which he now endeavoured to explain away, and for which
he very handsomely apologised. I assured him that I should still be
very happy to be of any service I possibly could; upon which it was
agreed that the work should be commenced immediately after breakfast on
the following morning; and I then retired, quite worn out, to the
quarters allotted to me.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE CAPTURE AND RECAPTURE OF THE "SANTA CATALINA."

I rather overslept myself that night, so that it was I close upon eight
bells before I was ready to go on deck. As I reached the foot of the
ladder leading to the upper deck an officer, apparently on the quarter-
deck, made some remark which I, being below, did not catch; but I did
that of Captain Calderon, who immediately replied quite loud enough for
me to hear:

"A schooner in these waters is always an object to be looked upon with
suspicion, but the _Dolphin_ has gone to the bottom, thanks be to the
Blessed Virgin, and I do not think we need fear anything else of her rig
that we may meet with hereabouts. Still, I do not altogether like the
looks of that fellow yonder."

I smiled as this back-handed compliment to the poor _Dolphin_ came
floating down the hatchway, and turned back to my berth for a minute or
two in order that those on deck might have no cause to think I had
overheard a remark which obviously was not intended to reach my ears.
Then I went on deck, and found the skipper with two or three officers
grouped near the capstan and intently eyeing some object to windward.

The wind, I discovered, had fall