me up to the bridge, Pedro.

"This is our pilot, Captain," he continued, introducing the negro to
Milsom, who looked at him quizzically and responded to his bow by
somewhat curtly bidding him "Good-morning!"

"He says that the coast is clear, so we may as well proceed forthwith.
How do we steer, Pedro?"

"Keep an offing of a mile, to allow of room for turning, and to get a
straight run in. For the present we may head for that white building on
the hillside yonder," answered Pedro.

This being clear to Milsom, the latter touched the telegraph, and the
yacht proceeded, with the pirogue astern in tow. Presently three small
cays detached themselves from the mainland, revealing a fine spacious
expanse of land-locked water behind them; and when, a little later, the
_Thetis_ had brought the largest cay fair abeam, the pilot waved his
hand, the helm was put hard a-starboard, and the vessel's bows were
pointed straight for the channel between the northernmost cay and the
mainland.

"We must enter the channel very slowly, Senor," cautioned Pedro, "for
the navigation of it is rather awkward, and I doubt whether a vessel of
this size has ever before been taken into the lagoon."

With her engines going dead slow, and occasionally stopping altogether
to deaden her way, the yacht crept cautiously along until, having passed
the critical danger-spot, she slid into the lagoon, which was now seen
to be a sheet of water some four miles long by about two miles broad,
trending due north and south, with a creek in its north-west corner,
toward which the bows of the vessel were turned, the speed being
quickened up to about eight knots. Ten minutes later the pilot gave the
word to be ready to anchor; the engines were stopped and then sent
astern, and a minute afterwards, the yacht having been brought to a
standstill, the anchor was let go, and the voyagers found themselves
riding in a fine, snug harbour, absolutely safe in all weathers, and
perfectly screened from the view of anything and everything that might
chance to pass outside.

No sooner was the anchor down than the creek abreast which the yacht was
moored began to swarm with boats of all shapes and sizes, which came
hurrying out to receive and transfer to the shore the cases of arms,
ammunition, dynamite, lead, and supplies of all kinds which lay snugly
stowed away beneath the floors of the ship's saloons; while the entire
strength of the yacht's crew was employed upon the ta