“Part of the bargain, if I remember your first mention of it, Senor, was that you should carry me to the West Indies.”
“You are right in that,” said he.
“Are we approaching the West Indies?”
“The West Indies is a wide term, Master Salkeld. We are certainly not approaching the West India islands. We are, in fact, off the coast of Mexico, and the mountain you see in the distance is the famed peak of Orizaba. To-morrow morning we shall drop anchor in the port of Vera Cruz.”
“And what shall I do there, Senor?”
He smiled at the question—a mysterious smile, which had a grim meaning behind it.
“Who knows, Senor? There are many occupations for a young and active gentleman.”
Now, for the life of me I could not help asking him a very pertinent question before I left the cabin to return on deck.
“Senor,” I said, “seeing that we are to part so soon you will perhaps not object to giving me some information. How much did my cousin, Master Jasper Stapleton, pay you for your share in this matter?”
He gave me a curious glance out of his eye corners.