This much Peter learnt from a fellow-countryman, the only British subject on the ship, and Mackenzie by name.
"The Rioguayans are frightfully proud of this concession," continued Mackenzie. "They are top-dog out here and pretty go-ahead, I can assure you. Too go-ahead for my liking."
"How's that?" asked Peter.
His companion smiled enigmatically.
"You'll find out quick enough," he replied. "The country used to be all right, but of recent years there's been a growing anti-British feeling. Why, I don't know, but the fact remains. So much so, that I'm selling out. I've taken up a piece of land at Barbuda, and I'm returning to Rioguay only to arrange for the disposal of a small mine that I've been working here. Where are you bound for?"
"El Toro; that's about five miles from Tepecicoa," announced Peter. "An uncle of mine is an engineer there."
"Not Strong—Brian Strong—by any chance?"
"Yes," replied Peter. "Do you know him?"
"Do you?" asked Mackenzie.
"I was only five or six when I last saw him," said Peter.