Interested sailors and marines lined the ship's rail, watching the approach of the stout, excited little foreigner. His rapid speech was now quite audible though not intelligible.
"He is giving those peons what my mother would call 'gowdy,'" said Dick to Henry, "and that is her worst swear word."
"Meaning our excitable friend is rather strong in his choice of expletives?" inquired Henry.
"You've got it, Hank! His language is hot enough to make a bottle of Tobasco sauce weep tears of envy."
By this time the boat was within a few yards of the ship.
"Boat ahoy! What do you want?" hailed the Officer of the Deck.
"I want to see the Captain. I am the consul. I am Señor Perez. There is much trouble."
"Come alongside," ordered the Officer of the Deck, and walked to the gangway to meet the consul who, with surprising agility, sprang from his boat and waddled hurriedly on deck.
"Excuse the absence of honors, Señor, but we did not expect you. The Captain will see you at once, sir."
"I do not want the honors, I want the protection. I want----"