garding
the treatment of pirates," said the sailor.

"But you know that I'm not a pirate, and so does Carstens," Ned said.
"You know that I came here in the _Manhattan_ without the consent of the
officers at Manila, but you know that I was only defending myself when
those natives were shot."

"I don't know anything about it," was the discouraging reply. "I've
heard you spoken of as a pirate for the past few days, and the members
of the crew all believe you to be one. If he orders them to shoot you,
they'll do it."

"Yes, I presume so," Ned said, soberly.

"What are you going to do about it?" asked the sailor, after a short
pause.

"The question," Ned replied, "is what are you going to do about it?"

"I couldn't do a thing if I tried," was the reply. "When Carstens hears
that the _Manhattan_ got away he will be red-headed, and will order the
trial to proceed at once. I'll see what I can do with some of the men I
know well, but the chances are that I'll only get myself into trouble
without doing you any good."

"All you can do," Ned said, "is to delay the trial, and the execution,
if it comes to that."

The officer who had made the arrest, after failing to seize the boat,
now approached the Lieutenant and said something to him in a low tone.

"What?" the latter almost screamed. "You let the boat get away?"

"They were too quick for us," was the reply.

"Too quick for you?" howled the Lieutenant. "Do you know what you've
done? You've ruined all my plans--the plans of the government.
Inefficiency is worse than open disobedience, and you may consider
yourself under arrest!"

The officer saluted and turned away, a scowl on his face.

"There is a likely man to talk with first," Ned suggested to the sailor.
"He will doubtless listen to you."

The Lieutenant now turned sharply toward the prisoners.

"What's going on there?" he demanded. "What are you talking to that
pirate for?" he added, approaching Ben threateningly.

"Trying to see what I could get out of him, sir," Ben replied, saluting.

"Well?"

"Not a thing!"

"Then cut it out," said the officer, moving away.

By this time the boxes were all out of the _Clara_, and the other vessel
was brought up to the Tusks. A great pile of boxes lay in the sandy
beach, and these the Lieutenant counted over for the second time. Then
he beckoned to a dignified looking native and went over the ranks of
boxes with him.

"Is it correct?" asked Carstens.

The ot