ionaries?"

"Surely, Senor, the reasons that I have already advanced ought to be
sufficient," answered the General. "But if they are not, let me give
you another. Your friend Don Hermoso Montijo, whom I see with his wife
and family on the upper deck yonder, are not altogether free from the
taint of suspicion of being in sympathy with the revolutionaries;
indeed, it has been whispered to me that--but it would perhaps be unfair
to them to repeat suggestions which have not as yet been absolutely
proved: let it suffice for me to say that I wish the present predicament
of my Government to be laid before them, together with the request which
I have ventured to make to you; and let me know how they advise you in
the matter."

"But, General, this is absolutely preposterous!" protested Jack. "Why
should Don Hermoso Montijo and his family be dragged into the affair?
And why should I be supposed to be governed by their advice? I must
positively refuse to submit the matter to them in any shape or form; and
I must also refuse to permit myself to be influenced by any advice which
they might see fit to give. They are my guests on board this vessel,
and, I may tell you, have embarked in her for the purpose of taking a
cruise in her for the benefit of the health of the ladies of the
family--indeed, we were on the point of getting under way when you
boarded us."

"Senor," retorted the General, "I will not pretend to dispute any one of
your statements; but I will simply say that if you persist in refusing
your assistance to the Spanish Government in this strait, your refusal
will have the effect of very greatly strengthening the suspicions that
already exist as to the loyalty of the Montijo family!"

"General," exclaimed Jack, "if you did but know it you could scarcely
have said anything better calculated to defeat your own wishes and make
me declare that under no circumstances will I permit myself to be
dragged into this business. To be perfectly frank with you, I do not
believe that you have the slightest shadow of foundation or excuse for
your suspicions of Senor Montijo and his family. But, in order to show
you how little grounds there are for them--should such actually exist--I
will do violence to my own feelings by acceding to your request, without
consulting Senor Montijo in any way, to the extent of conveying a party
of your men, not exceeding fifty, to Mulata Bay; upon condition that I
am allowed to fly the Spanish man