“But,” said Andy, when they were speaking about this matter, as preparations began to leave the port, “that hasn’t prevented the crew from holding an animated confab with those ashore.  There has been a constant jabbering and laughing between our fellows and those others.”

“Yes,” admitted Frank, “and I’ve seen several of the crew talking mysteriously with some of those chaps.  I wish now the senor had thought to indicate which was the secret agent of the revolutionists he saw on the dock.  But all the same I’ve marked the two fellows I suspect, and I’m going to keep a close eye on Enrique, and the little fellow with the quick motions we call ‘Cospita,’ because he’s forever ejaculating like that.”

“And if you find out that they’re meddling with the boxes?” asked Andy.

“H’m!  I guess it’ll be a bad day for Enrique and the jumping-jack, that’s all,” laughed his cousin.  “But there goes the cable, and it looks like we might be off at last.”

“I’m not sorry, for many things!” declared Andy, with a sigh of positive relief.  “The good senor got me scared by what he said about his government wanting just such things as our little ‘Bug’; and that the officials might have orders to find some sort of ridiculous excuse for grabbing it.”

“Same here,” admitted Frank.  “In fact, that bothered me a whole lot more than the chances of trouble along the river from the boys who want to get their man seated in the president’s chair, where he could hand out the loaves and the fishes.  We can resist them, and be backed by authority; but if the government officers once took us in we’d have to give up our job.  And that would break your heart, Andy.”

“Yes,” said the other, drawing a long breath, “I’m afraid it would.  Listen!  There goes the whistle.  I told the pilot not to make more fuss than he could help when we drew out.”

“Which was quite right.  I’m watching that little chap, Cospita.  See him wave his hand to some one ashore?  Yes, and that surely looked like a signal the fellow returned.  We are going to have trouble with that boy yet, Andy.”

“Well, that will be bad for Cospita,” was all the other remarked; for he was eagerly watching the growing space between the boat and the shore.

“Look, Frank,” he remarked, after a little time had elapsed, “as sure as you live, there is an officer in uniform just arrived on the dock, and backed by a squad of soldiers!  He seems to be surprised at discovering that we have gone!  Now he beckons, and waves his hat!  Listen to him shouting something in Spanish through his hands.  I guess we didn’t get away from Barranquila five minutes too soon!”

“It looks like it,” said Frank, grimly.  “But we’ve complied with the law of the land, and nothing short of a cannon could make us turn back now.  All the same, I’m going to the pilot house, and keep an eye on Felipe.  I think he’s trustworthy; but an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure always.”