Since Don Porfidio, gallant son of Porto Rico, was absent from his post of duty, the pleasant task of defending his ward must fall to others.
Undoubtedly this fellow must have used some ignoble means of gaining the mastery over the young and innocent girl's mind—Jerome had exhausted his own matchless resources for the last few days in the endeavor to arouse a responsive feeling in her heart, and possibly felt considerably piqued just now to discover that what he had failed to accomplish this son of Neptune had apparently brought about with ease.
Of course he possessed some wonderful power that aided him in this revolutionary work—Jerome had read and heard considerable on the subject of personal magnetism, of hypnotism, the astonishing control one mind may have over another that nature has so constructed as to make it subject or tributary to the first.
What was needed, therefore, was the sudden introduction of a third resolute body in order to break the magic spell.
Jerome would be this public benefactor—he was always ready to sacrifice his own comfort in order to restore natural harmony.
Having thus quickly decided that it was not only his privilege but a duty as well, to step between this necromancer and his intended victim, Jerome set the ball rolling by continuing his upward movement.
By this time his presence seemed to have become known to those in whose mutual affairs he was taking such a remarkable interest.
Strangely enough it was the girl who first detected the fire of his cigar appearing above the line marking the quarter deck—the girl who uttered a choking little Spanish exclamation of mingled alarm and consternation—the girl who even sprang back a step as though to make it appear that she and the sailor were but engaged in an ordinary conversation.