Part 16 (1/2)
When she left hie
”I promised to let you knohether the malaria would send me home or not,” he said ”I've rasped his hand cordially
”I don't know that you are wise, old ave Walthehimsical look ”Haven't you come to a decision rather suddenly?”
”That doesn't matter,” said Walthew, ”I mean to stick to it”
CHAPTER XII
BAITING THE SMUGGLERS
It was late, and the deas heavy Macallister's thin clothes were getting damp as he walked i lay near the steps, but her crew had not arrived, although Macallister had waited half an hour for them This by no means pleased him, because, while not a tyrant, he expected his orders to be obeyed Besides, he resented the ingratitude of the reed with Grahame that it was prudent to moor the _Enchantress_ out in the harbor and keep the crew short ofthe afternoon Macallister had given theh he iined he had kept within a limit that would ensure their sobriety
They had, however, not returned, and he felt disturbed as he watched the twinkling anchor-lights and the ripples flash in the silvery track the , and when one approached the landing Macallister drew back into the shadow He had ineer of the vessel fro for his unpunctual crew The footsteps of those who landed were growing faint when he heard singing farther up the mole The voice was unsteady, and the patter of bare feet that accoestively uneven
Macallister knew the song, and was not surprised that hisback the worse for liquor, should show a taste for goodSpanish-Americans It was, however, difficult to understand how they had o so far
”Where kept ye, ye drunken swine?” he asked when they lurched into sight
”No savvy,” answered his fireht of the the Clyde
This relieved his feelings and satisfied his sense of discipline, but he did not think it wise to translate his remarks: Spanish half-breeds have fiery tempers and carry knives
”Get into the boat before I kick ye off the mole!” he concluded when he was breathless, and theinto the water They had so out the oars, but at last they roay Macallister noted that one man placed a small cane basket under a thwart, and he suspected as inside
When they reached the _Enchantress_ he was first on deck, but he waited by the gangway until the man who carried the basket climbed up
Macallister held out his hand for the basket, and when the fellow gave it to hiine lamp
It contained two bottles of _anisado_, a spirit flavored with aniseed in favor in Spanish countries He felt tempted to throw theainst the grain, and the liquor ht be doled out when the ined they had forgotten the , and stepped out of the engine-room to meet them
”There was a sh his voice was thick
”It is possible you dropped it overboard,” Macallister suggested in his best Castilian--which was very bad
”No, senor One does not drop such baskets over”
”What was in it, then?”
The man was obviously not sober, but it looked as if he had not lost his senses
”A sive it back to us”
”No,” said Macallister sternly ”Presents of that kind are not allowed on board this shi+p”
He watched theether They were active, wiry fellows, obedient as a rule, but liable to passionate outbreaks, like most of their mixed race Now they looked drunkenly deterth of his fireman, Pepe