There
will be signals."
I leaned forward, startled out of my self-restraint. "Honduras! Good
Lord! what are you--a filibuster?"
"Hardly," with a short laugh. "That is too dangerous a job, and not
money enough in it. I prefer to do my revoluting through others, and
cop the swag. That is the safe end of the game. It happens to be
Honduras just now; I have been equally interested in other downtrodden
countries. In truth, friend, I am a patriot for revenue only."
"You mean you furnish arms?"
"For a suitable consideration--yes. In strict confidence I will state
that securely packed away in the hold of the _Sea Gull_--largely in
boxes labeled machinery--are twenty thousand rifles, six rapid-fire
guns, and a sufficiency of ammunition for a small army. Once safely
landed the profits of the voyage will total one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, gold. A rather tidy sum, hey?"
I grasped the idea swiftly enough, and it cleared up some of the shadow
of mystery. But the situation was rendered no more pleasant for us.
"Then you are not sailing for New Orleans?"
"Not until my hold is empty. We cleared from there, light, three weeks
ago."
"You mean to retain the lady on board?"
"Unless she prefers to jump overboard.
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