re making for the yacht. Jack snatched up a pair of binoculars that
lay in one of the basket chairs and brought it to bear upon the boat.
"Why," he exclaimed, "I'll be shot if it isn't the Capitan-General who
is coming off to us!"

"The Capitan--General!" gasped Don Hermoso. "Then, depend on it,
gentlemen, your movements were observed last night, and you have been
informed upon. What will you do?"

"Why," answered Jack, "we will wait until we have heard what these
people have to say; and then--be guided by circumstances. But--pooh! I
believe we are scaring ourselves unnecessarily. If they suspected us of
tampering with their ships it is not in a boat manned by six unarmed
sailors that they would come off to us. Come along, Phil, you as
skipper and I as owner of this vessel will go down to receive these
gentlemen and learn what their business is with us."

And, so saying, and followed by Milsom, he descended to the main deck
and stationed himself at the head of the gangway ladder, by which time
the boat was alongside. Another moment and the Capitan-General, hat in
hand, and bowing courteously to the two Englishmen, passed in through
the gangway, followed by the captain of the cruiser.

"Good-day, Senor Singleton!" exclaimed the old gentleman genially,
offering his hand. "Do you happen to remember me, or must I introduce
myself?"

"I remember you perfectly well, of course, General," answered Jack,
accepting the proffered hand with--it must be confessed--a feeling of
very considerable relief, "and I am very glad indeed to have the honour
of receiving you on board my yacht, although you have deferred your
visit until the moment when we are about to proceed to sea."

"Ah, yes," answered the General, "so I guessed, from the steam which I
see issuing from your vessel's funnel! It is about that that I have
come off to see you. But, before we go any further, permit me to have
the honour of introducing to you Captain Morillo, of His Spanish
Majesty's cruiser the _Infanta Isabel_, which lies yonder."

The introduction having been made and acknowledged with all due
formality, the old gentleman resumed:

"Now, a most extraordinary thing has happened here to-day--an occurrence
so singular and unique that one is driven to the conviction that certain
very clever conspirators have been at work." The old gentleman, whether
by accident or designedly, looked Jack square in the eye as he said
this; and it was with the u