Don Porfidio was holding forth upon some favorite topic, and his gruff voice sounded like the distant boom of breakers on a lee shore. Roderic bore no animosity toward the veteran--indeed, he had rather grown fond of him in times past, and the fact that he was of kin to Georgia added something to this feeling. At the same time he wished the big senor anywhere else than here just at present. There is such a thing as being in the way--at times even three can make a crowd. You see, Roderic was no different from the same old general run of lovers--every man must be a law unto himself when he finds circumstances surrounding him with a network of this kind. He bided his time and counted the minutes as though they were freighted with lead, hoping that the gentlemen might suddenly be assailed by a most amazing thirst that would demand their presence below decks. Such a thing was apt to happen at any time where Don Porfidio was concerned, as Roderic knew full well from previous experience. Ah! some one approached. With his heart beating like a trip hammer from mingled eagerness and anticipation, he slunk back out of sight and waited, hoping that this might be the earnestly hoped for deliverance. It was. Captain Beven had done his part well. The second officer of the blockade runner appeared on the quarter deck with his usual bluff announcement. "Gentlemen all, the captain has a visitor who desires to make your acquaintance in the cabin. He has brought over a basket of champagne with which to drink in memory of old days when he trod this deck in the duties that I now perform. Gentlemen all, will you be pleased to accompany me?" Would they--Roderic could not but chuckle at the eager haste with which they bounded from their chairs, and apologizing to the lady for this necessity that tore them from her charming company, came down the ladder one after the other, to solemnly march toward the cabin. The game had worked. Roderic now had the coast clear and it would be his own fault if he failed to improve the golden opportunity a happy fortune had placed before him. CHAPTER XII. THE MAN WHO MADE SIGNS. It was no time for delay. Enough precious minutes had been already wasted while he listened to the remarks of the trio upon the upper deck. Georgia had made some laughing remark at the haste shown in their departure--she knew the weakness of Don Porfidio, and rallied them on their readiness to seek the confines of the stuffy cabin because forsooth a gentleman had come on board with a basket of champagne. Perhaps, woman like, she was a little piqued because they beat such a hasty retreat. Well, there was one ascending the ladder at this very moment whom a thousand baskets, each loaded to the brim with the finest of Mumms' Extra Dry could not tempt from the locality which she graced with her charming presence. Roderic mounted eagerly. Yes, the coast was clear. The young girl sat quite alone, apparently lost in deep thought.