When our friends reached the side of the yacht, the sailors were already there, at least those on deck; and some signal must have been given below as the boats approached, for the watch off duty was tumbling out quite ignorant as to what might be required of them, but ready, like all seamen of their nationality to do their duty with vigor. "Hold off--our orders are not to receive visitors after ten o'clock!" cried Beven, as he saw Shackelford rise to his feet. "We mean to come aboard," said that worthy. "Then you go back quicker than you come." "Beven, I am surprised." "At what?" "Your deceiving us." "Nonsense, my visit was in good faith." "You came with a secret object in view--you kept us engaged below while your confederate examined our vessel." "It was prime champagne, Shack." "Granted, but"--and here he relieved himself by a tremendous expletive, "why did you put that spy aboard of us?" "In the first place Mr. Owen is no spy. He cares little or nothing what cargo you carry, but he is deeply interested in petticoats--your young lady is his betrothed, and he vowed he would go with me on board just to see her. Shackelford, that's a man after your own heart." And Shackelford, realizing the truth of this point blank assertion could only growl. "Interrupted in his _tete a tete_ with the young lady by your gentleman there, they had words, being rivals, and it resulted in Mr. Owen tossing the elegant Adonis overboard. Shack, that is just what you would have done, confound you." Shackelford could not deny it. Really Captain Beven should have been a lawyer, since he knew so well how to draw the fire of his adversary, and leave him not a foot upon which to stand. "For you to force your way to the deck of my craft under these conditions I should consider a high act of piracy and I assure you my men stand here ready to back me up in all I do. Is it so, men?" A hearty "ay, ay sir" came ringing from the crew. "Now Captain Shackelford, if you choose to board me you do so at your own risk. There be English arms and hearts here just as stanch as your own. Come by daylight and by Heavens I will receive you as an honored guest--yes, and open another basket of champagne for the occasion; but I beg of you let discretion play the part of valor now." Shackelford knew he held a weak hand--that any attempt to board this craft flying the British jack and drag from her deck a subject of the United States foreign diplomatic service would not only embroil him in present difficulties and probably result in a broken head, but future results promised to make things exceedingly lively for him. Great Britain was going out of her way to bring about an era of good feeling between America and the mother country--she had shown in many matters how sincere her sympathies were and that blood was thicker than water. Hence, he might expect severe handling from the legal and military authorities of both countries.