“Ah,” said the former in genuine Rock-scorpion dialect, “The last was a great disaster; but it has never been said that you did not do all that was possible to carry out your contract properly.  If there had been any appearance of not doing so, my friend and I would not have said that Captain S——­ is the very man to carry out our new affair, which is doubly better than the other.”

“Well, shut up about that,” said the captain.  “Come to the point.  What is it you wish me to do?”

“Ah! capitan, but for the knowledge we have of your ability, and the affection my friends and myself have for you, we would have hesitated to show you this token of our much esteem.”

“Shut up!” interjected the sailor.  “I don’t want a display of pretty nothings.  I want business.”

“Oh! capitan, why do you say such things when we are so anxious to put something your way.  I tell you there are thousands of men that would be glad to have your chance.  The job we have is this:  three feluccas are lying up in the harbour laden with tobacco.  Tonight you must lie off the town without anchoring, and they will be brought alongside.  You must take the cargo aboard, and proceed off Amonti Pomoron.  A pilot and interpreter will go with you, and you must not go near the land until darkness comes on, when craft showing signals which the pilot understands will be there to meet you and have men to tranship the cargo into lighters.  You will have L400 for doing this—­half in cash before leaving, and the other half on arrival at Amonti.  The transaction will be quite straight.”

“It seems to me so uncommonly like a huge smuggling affair, that I cannot entertain it,” replied S——.

“No, no! my dear capitan; here you are mistaken.  We would not ask such a thing of you.  How can it be smuggling?  The cargo is put aboard in neutral waters; you take it off the coast of Spain and deliver it as arranged.  You get your money, and know nothing more about it.  How can that be smuggling?”

“Well,” said the captain, “it has nothing to do with me where the stuff comes from, or where it is going to.  If you will give me five hundred pounds, all cash, before leaving here, I will agree to take it.”

The Rock-scorpion gasped—­

“What, five hundred pounds!  Capitan, now do be reasonable.  I tell you no other man would get the half of what you are offered.”

“Very well, then,” replied the captain, “it is off.  Give it to the person who will do it for half.”

“Certainly not; that is not what I mean,” said the commissioner.  “How can I face my friends with such news after all I have said to them about you?  They will form a bad opinion of both you and myself.”

“Oh! d——­ both you and your friends.  Get over the side, or I’ll help you.”

“Well, Capitan S——­, I have never seen a man in such a temper before.”

“Oh, go to——!”

“Oh no, no, capitan; don’t say that.  I cannot tell my friends of this.”