"My partner is a good shot," Wyndham said to their companion. "We will be occupied for two or three days, but perhaps after that----" Don Luis fixed a day for their visit, and when he went off Marston turned to Wyndham. "It was Pepe," he declared. "Yes; I saw him. I think he was with the officer of the port-guard." "But what is he doing here? And why did he step back when I turned to you?" "I don't know," said Wyndham. "The thing's interesting." Marston agreed, but he could suggest no explanation and they talked about Don Luis. In the morning, when the narrow streets got hot, they went to the _marina_ where the sea breeze blew among the pepper-trees and palms. After lounging for a time on a shady bench, Wyndham indicated some carpenters at work behind the mole. "It's too early to meet our agent. Let's see what those fellows are doing," he proposed. They crossed a belt of shingle and found the carpenters mending a big open boat. Two or three other boats were drawn up close by and planks lay about. When Marston stopped, a man who had been sitting in the shade got up and turned to him with a careless smile. It was Pepe, the negro pilot. "Hallo!" said Marston. "Have you given up your job?" "Not for long. One likes a change," the other replied. In the meantime, Wyndham examined the boats. He knew the type, which was used for taking off cargo to vessels that did not come into the harbor. For their length, they carried a big load and were generally propelled by four men who pulled the heavy oars double-banked. Their flat bottom adapted them for use in shallow water. "Are you going to buy the _candrays_?" Wyndham asked. Pepe grinned. "One does not get rich by fishing and piloting. It is cool here in the shade and I have not much to do." "Oh, well," said Wyndham, "No doubt you have seen the schooner. I expect we'll sail in about a week and we can give you a passage, if you are going back." Pepe said he did not mean to return yet, and Marston and Wyndham went away. "I wonder what he is doing about the boats, although I don't know if it matters," Marston remarked. "He was rather obviously loafing." "I'd have expected to find him loafing about a second-class wine shop." "With a hat like his and new yellow boots?" said Wyndham dryly. "They may have cost him all he's got. These fellows are vain. All the same, there's something strange about his being here and trying to pass without our seeing him last night. He's frank enough this morning." "He may have been making the best of it because he could not steal off before we came up." "It's possible, although I don't see why he should want to dodge us," Marston replied, and added thoughtfully: "Since he's allowed to pilot vessels at the lagoon, I expect he's the Bat's man."