And I hope it will turn out well for the owners. For my part, I'm
tired of this life. Circumstances induced me to adopt it; but I can't
say that in my conscience I have ever approved it."

"Why, cap'n, you astonish me!" exclaimed the mate. "You don't mean to
say that you think it's any harm to cheat the greasers."

"Yes I do," replied the captain, shaking his head. "And I think the
aggravation of the offence is, that I am an adopted citizen of the
republic of the stars and stripes. I am engaged in defrauding the
government of a sister republic."

"A pretty sort er sister republic," replied the mate, disdainfully. "A
poor, miserable set of thievin', throat-cuttin', monte-playin',
cattle-stealin', bean-eatin' griffins. If our government had had any
spunk, we'd have pitched into 'em long ago. And it was only because
they're weaker than we be, that we haven't licked 'em into spun yarn."

"But suppose, Pardon, we should be (a chance that, thank Heaven, has
never yet occurred) overhauled by one of their revenue cutters."

"The little Zanthe could walk away from her like a racer from a plough
horse."

"But, supposing we were surprised, and lay where we couldn't run."

"Cap'n," said Pardon, glancing along the grim batteries of the Zanthe,
"do you see them are lovely bull dogs? And them are sturdy Jacks
what's a sittin' on the breeches of the guns? What on airth was they
made for? A couple of broadsides, starboard and larboard, would settle
the hash of the smartest revenue cutter that ever dipped her fore foot
in the water."

"And the after thought would never trouble you, Pardon?"

"Never! 'shelp me, Bob," replied the mate, energetically. "Greasers
isn't human bein's. Besides, it's all fair play, life for life, and
the gentleman with the single fluke tail take the loser. Haint they
set a price on our heads? Eight thousand dollars on your'n, and five
thousand on mine? I never was worth five thousand down at Portland;
but if they've marked me up too high, it's their own look out. They'll
never be called upon to pay it. But this sellin' a fellur's head
standin', like a lot of firewood, is excessively aggravatin', and gets
a fellur's mad up. But, hallo, cap'n, here comes a shore boat. I'll
bet it's Don Martinez."

A row boat, manned by eight Mexicans, with a muffled figure in the
stern sheets, now pulled out for the brig, and soon lay alongside. On
being challenged, a preconcerted watchword was given in reply, and the
o