Before parting, the Captain insisted on his accepting a small loan which he said he could return to Nassau whenever he felt like it.

There was a suspicious dimness in his eyes as he crushed Paul's hand in his own, while Betsy cried outright as she heartily kissed him good-bye.

When the weather became mild again, Paul engaged a small fishing craft and went down the coast to the vicinity of the wreck but his efforts were in vain.

His armour by that time was buried far below in the quicksand so he abandoned the search and went back to Tampico.
While sitting disconsolately on the piazza of the little hotel in Tampico, he was approached by an American: "Well young fellow I've heard that you have had pretty hard luck.

What do you intend to do ?" "That's just about what I would like to know myself." "Well, I think I can post you," said his new acquaintance as he leisurely seated himself and hoisted his heels on the rail.