“No, no!” interposed the captain; “no money, no bales.”  He would wait until the second lighter came, which could easily be placed alongside astern of the first one.  In a short time number two came, and was moored as directed.  A large number of men jumped aboard from both craft.  The captain again called out to bring the man with the money, and again no one turned up but the interpreter.  This time he was defiant.  He put his back against the saloon side, folded his arms and began—­

“Capitan, you see the number of people aboard your vessel.  They can take her from you, if they so wish it.  I tell you frankly we have no money; but, by God! we must and shall have the tobacco.”

The captain had been reared amidst a race of men who had imbued him with the importance of hitting decisively and with promptness, when confronted with situations which demanded physical action.  In an instant he had hold of the scoundrel, who, he was convinced now, was the leader of a plot to take the cargo by force.  Under peremptory compulsion, the Levantine was rushed on deck, informed that he had miscalculated with whom he had to deal, and that any one who attempted to carry out his threat would be fired upon.

“I give you fair warning there shall be no half measures, and I command you to inform your friends what I have said; and also state to them that as soon as I have been paid my freight, they will not only be allowed to have the cargo, but I will instruct my crew to assist in the transhipment.”

It never will be known now what this plant of grace intimated precisely to his colleagues, but the general impression was at the time that the captain’s message had not been conveyed verbatim.  Soon the babble of tongues charged the air and gave an impression of Bedlam.  The captain had resolved upon a course of action which was strenuous.  He had given certain orders to the chief engineer, and was standing on the lower bridge reviewing the situation, when the second officer came up to him and said in a whisper—­

“The Spaniards are all armed to the teeth, sir.”

“All right,” said the captain, “they will soon be disarmed.  Meanwhile, as a precaution, put our men on their guard.  This business must be carried through vigorously, and with dash.”

At this juncture the interpreter, apparently with the intention of breaking the deadlock, attempted to come on the bridge, and was warned if he put his foot on the ladder he (the captain) would jump on top of him.  He did so, and the next moment he was flattened on the deck.  The Spaniards, in great excitement, surrounded the two.  At last, one of the shipwrecked men spoke to them in Spanish, and the master asked him if he could really speak Spanish.  He replied in the affirmative.

“Then,” said the captain, “translate to these men that I do not wish to hold the cargo, but that my agreement was for the freight to be paid immediately the craft came alongside.”