“Impossible!” exclaimed the other. “You are United State. Well, United State forbid any merchant ship to carry arms to friendly state for starting revolution. If I hire you to do so I get you in trouble, and myself in trouble. I want no quarrel with United State, for when I am myself President of Colombia I must stand well with other powers. So it is same with every nation. I cannot hire a ship. I must buy one and take responsibility myself.” This frank and friendly explanation led me to regard the flashy little man more kindly than before. I had been busy thinking, knowing that Uncle Naboth had set his heart on making some money on the return voyage. So, during the pause that followed the speech of Señor de Jiminez, I turned the matter over in my mind and said: “Tell me, sir, what you propose doing with the ship after you get to Colombia with it?” He stared at me a moment. “It is of little use then,” said he, “unless I could put some cannon on board and use him for gunboat.” “Have you ever been aboard the _Seagull_?” I continued. He shook his head. “I have inquire about every ship now in Port Phillip,” he said. “Not one is available but yours that is big enough to carry my cargo—all others are owned in foreign lands and cannot be bought. But I see your ship, and it look like a good ship; I inquire and am told by my friends here it is famous for speed and safety.” “It is all that,” agreed my uncle heartily. “We have a couple of guns on board already,” I continued; “for sometimes we sail in seas where it is necessary for us to protect ourselves. But as a matter of fact the _Seagull_ would make a poor gunboat, because she has no protective armor. So it seems all you could use her for would be to carry your revolutionary supplies to Colombia and land them secretly.” “That is all that I require!” he said quickly, giving me a keen look. “Sam,” said my uncle, “you’re goin’ to make a durn fool of yourself; I kin see it in your eye!” CHAPTER II I ADVANCE A PROPOSITION By this time all eyes were upon my face, and realizing that I was about to suggest a bold undertaking I was a little embarrassed how to continue. “For our part, sir,” said I, addressing Señor de Jiminez and keeping my gaze averted from the others, “it is our intention to sail for America presently, and we would like to carry a good paying cargo with us. So it strikes me we ought to find a way to get together. Have you spent all your funds here in purchases, or have you some left?” He figured on the envelope again—eagerly now, for his quick brain had already grasped my forthcoming proposition. “I have still in bank here equal to nine thousan’ dollar United State money,” said he.