"Tell the cook to come here directly. I want him," exclaimed the captain, sternly; and the sailor ran off, returning with 'Pollo, the black cook, rubbing his shiny face. "I speck, sah, if de rose meat burn himself all up, you no blame de cook, sah," he said. "No, no, 'Pollo; only answer a question or two." "Yes, sah; d'reckly, sah." "Look ye here, 'Pollo, old mate," said Oakum; "you and I have had some rum voyages in our time, old nigger." "You call me ole mate, sah," said 'Pollo, angrily, "I answer hundred tousan queshtum. You call me nigger, sah, I dam if I say noder word." "It's all right, 'Pollo, I won't any more. You're a coloured gentleman; and, though I chaff you sometimes, I know that I can always depend on you, fair weather or foul." The black nodded, showed his white teeth, and his eyes twinkled. "Now look here, 'Pollo, old man; do you remember being in the little brig off Caraccas, when we had the gold?" "Yes, sah, I membah well; and membah when we had do tree hundred lilly women aboard de big ship, and de big horse alligator woman. Yah, yah, yah!" "So do I, 'Pollo; but what did we do when we were in the brig?" "Catch de fish," said 'Pollo. "To be sure we did; but what did we find lying down fathoms deep in the clear water?" "You mean de ole 'Panish gold ship, sah?" "There!" said Sam Oakum, turning round with a grim smile on his mahogany face; "Ain't that there corroborative evidence, sir?" "We find two ole ship, sah, and one on de shore," said 'Pollo, volubly, "and I dibe down, sah." "Did you find anything?" said Mr Parkley, eagerly. "No, sah, him too deep down, but I membah perfect well, sah, all about 'em. All 'Panish ship, sah." "That will do, 'Pollo," said Mr Parkley. "Now go and see to the dinner. By-the-way, 'Pollo, will you come into the cabin after dinner, and join Mr Oakum in drinking a glass of wine to the success of our voyage?" "I hab great pleasure, sah," said the black, with his eyes twinkling; and as he went away bowing and smiling, Mr Parkley turned to the Cuban. "Now, Mr Lorry, or Laure, or whatever your name is, will you have the goodness to step ashore? This is my ship, and this expedition belongs to me and my partner. You have refused to carry out your contract before twenty witnesses, and now you see that I can do without you." "But," said Laure, "the man is mad. He cannot take you; but I will not carry my revenge so far. Make me a good concession and I will consent to go." "I thank you, Senor Laure, for endorsing the statement of our old friend, Oakum, and the ship's cook, and since you are so kind, I will make you a concession." "You consent," said the Cuban, more eagerly than he intended. "Yes," said Mr Parkley. "You shall be allowed to walk off the ship instead of being kicked off. Captain Studwick, see that man off this deck."