"What is it you wish, señor?"
"How about that story Garcia told you about me?"
"Ah, it was a fairy tale, a child's story, and unworthy of full-grown ears."
"But you believed it?"
"For a time, yes. The injured convict told me that Garcia was not telling the truth. I did not believe, even then. It was only when the other convict supported the one with the broken arm that I believed. Garcia had two against him. What better proof could you want?"
"You are not out of patience with us for what my friends did in helping me escape from you?"
"No! It was a gr-r-rand fight! You and your two friends worsted me, Captain Enrique Sandoval, and three marines. Of course, had I been armed with my pistol, the result would have been vastly different. Yet you escaped, after bidding defiance to all the Chilian authorities in Punta Arenas. Ah, marvelous! I am filled with admiration for your disregard of life. All Punta Arenas is talking about it. No one was killed, no one was even hurt, and yet you were rescued. I am glad it was so. How would I have felt had I been compelled to face you in your prison room at the harbor master's house, and admitted that I had made a mistake? What could I have said to his excellency, the American consul? I should have perished of shame and mortification. I have your pardon, señor?"
"You have," said Matt, very gravely but with a mischievous twinkle in his gray eye. "We are friends, captain?"
"Forever!"
The smoke of the Jap steamer was vanishing rapidly to southward. The Salvadore, a few minutes after the captain ceased speaking, turned her bow on the other tack and started in pursuit.