“Capitan, we are not pirates; we are respectable men carrying on a respectable trade.  You need not prepare anything; we are honest tradesmen.”

The captain laughed heartily at this comic assurance of fidelity, and felt convinced that a deep impression had been made, as the interpreter shortly after was seen vigorously conversing with his two compatriots.  The one had been introduced as the representative of the owner of the cargo, and the other the pilot, whose business it was to direct the captain to that part of the coast where the craft was awaiting the vessel’s arrival.  The treacherous dusk was casting its shadows over them, and had brought with it a weird sound of the moaning wind.  The crew stood in little knots, talking earnestly to each other.  Obviously they conversed of the night’s work, and all the grave possibilities that lay in front of them.  For the most part they wore an anxious look on their faces, but there was one there whose eye was full of sparkling fun, and whose face beamed with a self-satisfied expectation of exhilarating dangers.  The captain called him to the bridge, and gave him some specific orders as to how he was to act when certain signals were given.  The chaste and simple motto of “the blow first and jaw afterwards” guided him, and he was only profane when discipline demanded it.  His superstitious tendencies were in an ordinary way an anxiety to him, but on the night in question the only signs he gave of being affected in this way was by the half coherent remark to the captain that he did not like to hear the shrill wail of the wind through the rigging; “it seems to be speaking to us of some trouble near at hand.”  Suddenly the interpreter called out, “I see the feluccas.”  In a moment all thought of the wail of the wind had disappeared, and this fine athletic seaman was commanding his men like a hero.  He had been told by his captain that there would more than likely be rough work to do, and he prepared for it with a skill and vigour that left no doubt as to how his instructions would be carried out.  “Give the signal at the proper time,” said he, “and leave the rest to me.”  A shipwrecked crew was being taken home in the steamer, and these, together with her own crew, made the number look formidable, and although they were never requested to give assistance, they offered it in case of need.  Undoubtedly the addition to the ordinary crew had a moral effect upon the Spaniards.

The craft came alongside, and her crew jumped aboard and commenced to handle the bales.  They were peremptorily stopped by the captain giving instructions that not a single bale was to be allowed to pass into the lighters until the freight was paid and he had given orders.  Soon there was a carnival of foes.  The captain called to the interpreter to bring the man with the money to the saloon.  The interpreter came but not the man.  The former said the money was coming on the second lighter, but the one alongside must be loaded and sent away first.