He and I reentered the village, but a fifteen minutes' search failed to disclose our man. Therefore we returned to the beach. A crowd was gathered close about some common centre in the unmistakable restless manner of men about a dog fight or some other kind of a row. We pushed our way in. Johnny and Yank were backed up against the palmetto awning of one of the boats in an attitude of deadly and quiet menace. Not two yards away stood four of our well-dressed friends. Nobody as yet displayed a weapon, except that Yank's long rifle lay across the hollow of his left arm instead of butt to earth; but it was evident that lightnings were playing. The boatman, who had appeared, alone was saying anything, but he seemed to be supplying language for the lot. Johnny's tense, alert attitude relaxed a little when he saw us. "Well?" inquired Ward easily. "What's the trouble?" "Yank and I found our goods dumped out on the beach, and others in their place," said Johnny. "So you proceeded to reverse matters? How about it?" he inquired pleasantly of the four men. "I know nothing about it," replied one of them shortly. "We hired this boat, and we intend to have it; and no whipper-snapper is going to keep us from it." "I see," said Talbot pleasantly. "Well, excuse me a moment while I talk to our friend." He addressed the man in Spanish, and received short, sullen replies. "He says," Talbot explained to us, "that he never saw us before in his life, and never agreed to take us up the river." "Well, that settles it," stated the other man. "How much did you offer to pay him?" asked Talbot. The man stared. "None of your business," he replied. "They're askin' twenty dollars a head," volunteered one of the interested spectators. "Exactly. You see," said Talbot to us, "we got here a little too early. Our bargain was for only fifteen dollars; and now this worthy citizen has made a better rate for himself." "You should have had the bargain immediately registered before the _alcalde_, senor," spoke up a white-dressed Spaniard of the better class, probably from the castle. "I thank you, senor," said Talbot courteously. "That neglect is due to my ignorance of your charming country." "And now if you'll move, young turkey cock, we'll just take our boat," said another of the claimants. "One moment!" said Talbot Ward, with a new edge to his voice. "This is my boat, not yours; my baggage is in it, my boatman is on the ground. That he is forgetful has nothing to do with the merits of the case. You know this as well as I do. Now you can acknowledge this peacefully and get out, or you can fight. I don't care a continental red copper which. Only I warn you, the first man who makes a move with anything but his two feet will be shot dead."