"Hold on, gents," said he, leaping ashore. "I'll come up 'longside."

Date, ever suspicious, thought it queer that the skipper should

behave so politely, as he had gathered that Hervey was not usually a

considerate man. Also, he saw that when the captain was climbing the

bank, the boat, in charge of a mate--as the inspector judged from his

brass-bound uniform--backed water to the end of the jetty, where it

swung against one of the shell-encrusted piles. Hervey finally reached

the jetty level, but refused to come on to the same. He beckoned to Don

Pedro and his companions to walk forward to the ground upon which he

was standing. Also, he seemed exceedingly anxious to take time over the

transaction, as even after he had handed the scroll of writing to

the Peruvian, and had received the gold in exchange, he engaged in

quarrelsome conversation. Pretending that he doubted if De Gayangos had

brought the exact sum, he opened the canvas bag and insisted on counting

the money. Don Pedro naturally lost his temper at this insult, and swore

in Spanish, upon which Hervey responded with such volubility that

anyone could see he was a pastmaster in Castilian swearing. The row

was considerable, especially as Random and Hope were laughing at

the quarrel. They thought that Hervey was the worse for drink, but

Date--clever for once in his life--did not think so. It appeared to him

that the boat had gone to the end of the jetty for some reason connected

with the same reason which induced the skipper to spin out the time of

the meeting by indulging in an unnecessary quarrel.

The skipper also kept his eyes about him, and insisted that the four men

should keep together at the head of the pier.

"I daresay you're trying to play low down on me," he said with a scowl,

after satisfying himself that the money was correct, "but I've got my

shooter."

"So have I," cried Don Pedro indignantly, and slipped his hand round to

his hip pocket, "and if you talk any further so insulting I shall--"

"Oh, you bet, two can play at that game," cried Hervey, and ripped out

his own weapon before the Spaniard could produce his Derringer. "Hands

up or I shoot."

But he had reckoned without his host. While covering De Gayangos, he

overlooked the fact that Random and Hope were close at hand. The next

moment, and while Don Pedro flung up his hands, the ruffian was covered

by two revolvers in the hands of two very capable men.

"Great Scott!" cried Hervey, lowering his weapon. "Only my fun, gents.

Here, you get back!"

This was to Inspector Date, who had been keeping his ears and eyes

open, and who was now racing for the end of the jetty. Peering over, he

uttered a loud cry.




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