o, my boy," said the skipper sadly, "but I didn't
want you and young Burnett to see what was bound to follow. The rougher
portion of Don Ramon's followers have not the same ideas of mercy to a
fallen enemy that belong to a European mind, and so I came away."

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

POLITICAL QUESTIONS.

Happily for them, the boys saw little more of the horrors of the petty
war. Aboard the schooner what met their eyes were the triumphs of
peace. The next day flags were flying, bells ringing, guns firing, and
the whole of the inhabitants of the town were marching in procession and
shouting _Vivas_.

Crowds gathered upon the shore nearest to where the schooner was moored,
to shout themselves hoarse; and not content with this, they crowded into
boats to row out round the little English vessel and shout themselves
hoarser there, many of the boats containing women, who threw flowers
which floated round.

"I am getting rather tired of this," said Fitz, at last. "I suppose
it's very nice to them, and they feel very grateful to your father for
bringing the guns and ammunition to beat off this other President
fellow; but keeping on with all this seems so babyish and silly. Why
can't they say, `Thank Heaven!' and have done with it?"

"Because they are what they are," said Poole, half contemptuously.
"Why, they must have been spoiling their gardens to bring all these
flowers. They are no use to us. I should call that boat alongside--
that big one with the flag up and all those well-dressed women on
board."

"No, don't!" cried Fitz excitedly. "Why, they'd come and shout more
than ever, and begin singing again. What's the good of doing that?"

"I'll tell you," said Poole; "and I should tell them that it would be a
deal more sensible to go back and fetch us a boat-load of fruit and
vegetables, and fowls and eggs."

"Ah, to be sure," cried Fitz. "It would please old Andy too; but--but
look there; they are more sensible than you think for."

"Well done!" cried Poole, "Why, they couldn't have heard what I said."

"No," said Fitz, "and if they had there wouldn't have been time. You
must have telegraphed your thoughts. Why, there are two boat-loads."

"Three," said Poole.

And he was right, and a few minutes later that number of good-sized
market-boats were close alongside, their owners apparently bent upon
doing a good stroke of trade in the edibles most welcome to a ship's
crew after a long voyage.

"Wel