"_Carramba!_ foolish man to risk so much for a woman's word. Know then that I do love you with all my heart and soul--the good Father above preserve you, for me!" It was all he asked. He snatched one burning kiss and then with a hasty "adieu, beloved," sprang to the ladder. It was time. The ship was heaving with commotion. Had the startling cry of "fire," always dreaded above all else at sea, been sounded aboard the blockade runner, loaded as she was with much ammunition, it could hardly have created greater excitement than now reigned. Roderic remained quite cool, which was an advantage to the success of his venture. Garbed as he was as a sailor any one might have taken him for one of the crew hastening to his station, since the boatswain's shrill whistle had called the sailormen to man one of the boats. It was easy enough work dropping down the ladder, but as some one chanced to be ascending it at the same time an unavoidable collision ensued. Consequently Roderic and the unknown came to the lower deck in a bunch, and being above, the American found a comfortable lodging place on the body of his confrere. He did not linger. One ejaculatory Spanish swear word from the ascending figure as he swooped down upon him gave Roderic a pretty good idea as to his identity. Wretched Roblado, fated to again endure all the flings of outrageous fortune at the hands of the man from over the sea! Roderic halted not neither to assist the damaged Spaniard to arise nor to offer apologies for such unceremonious conduct. At such times men cannot be particular as to their _modus operandi_ in conducting their retreat--the end justifies the means. Happily he had not been at all injured by the fall. He heard an anxious exclamation skyward and had a glimpse of Georgia looking over the edge of the upper deck. It was just like the man to wave his hand and even kiss his fingers to the girl ere resuming his course toward the spot where in all probability Captain Beven anxiously awaited his coming. A splash announced the launching of a boat. It was fortunately on the other side of the steamer, since Jerome had gone over to port. Even such a small matter might count in the end, should pursuit be inaugurated when Wellington was rescued and managed to regain enough breath to splutter out the facts. At any rate Roderic made a note of this point which was all the more singular because he had other fish to fry just then. Fortunately no one attempted to stay his flight--fortunately for them perhaps, as well as his own success, for Roderic was just in the humor to handle any interference roughly. What he had just passed through had the effect of arousing the lion that lay beneath the surface in his nature, and he was in a condition to do more than his share of battle.