Well, that is what happened and how everything was changed in a single hour; the Santa Cruz Admiral came to call on the Skipper and explain matters, and the Provisional Government came off to renew their claims for Recognition. It was just as Navarro had thought. The news that their old comrades in _La Buena Presidente_ had beaten one of the finest cruisers in the English Navy had come to the ships huddled under the breakwater at Los Angelos, expecting every hour that she’d come along and sink them, and they were so proud of her and her people, and so enraged when they heard that she’d been treacherously sunk after her glorious fight, that they hoisted the black and green flag and came along to throw in their lot with the insurgents. The Provisional Government, as a reward for his great services, made the Admiral Vice-President and gave his job to Captain Pelayo. This pleased the fleet even if it did not please the Admiral, who must have known that it was only done so that there’d be no chance of his altering his mind again. Gerald told me, long afterwards, that he’d been given the choice either of becoming Vice-President or of being shot. The _Hercules_ went off to Princes’ Town to renew the Provisional Government’s demand for Recognition, and came back again, two days afterwards, with the welcome news that both the British and United States Governments had granted it. This was like a weight off my chest, because Gerald now could come and go wherever he liked without fear of arrest. The Skipper sent a private note to de Costa telling him the news, and let me go with him when he and Captain Roger Hill went ashore to communicate it officially. We could hardly get through the crowds that blocked the streets and filled the square in front of the _Alcade’s_[#] offices, where the Provisional Government were installed; thousands of the insurgent troops surged round us cheering for all they were worth, but we got through them eventually and I spotted Gerald. [#] Mayor. ’It’s all splendid,’ he said; ’won’t the mater be glad? D’you know that that transport they brought is "chock-a-block" with ammunition and stores from Los Angelos?’ ’I expect you’ll be back at the rubber plantation soon,’ I laughed, I felt so jolly happy; but Gerald only smiled and shook his head, ’Not exciting enough.’ ’How about that little beast?’ I asked. ’Is he safe in hospital?’ ’You cruel brute!’ he answered; ’you maimed him for life. He’s cleared out somewhere—they let him go—no one knew him.’ I felt awfully vexed and angry about that, and implored Gerald to be careful, but he only smiled and knocked the ashes out of his pipe. He was looking as fit as a fiddle, he’d done away with the sling for his arm, and it did please me so to see him, in the same smart white riding things and polo helmet, ’bossing’ it among all the other fellows, who’d put on their most gorgeous uniforms for the occasion, and were covered with huge green and black sashes.