“How do you like it here?” Olsen resumed when he put down his glass.  “It’s a country that soon palls.  Are you staying long?”

“I can’t tell,” said Kit, who decided not to state that he knew the country.  “You see, I’m not in command.”

“No,” said Olsen.  “I suppose you’re a relation of the Buccaneer?”

“A poor relation.  He gave me a lift when I needed it.”

Olsen laughed.  “Well, I guess he makes you hustle.  A pretty lively old pirate, if all one hears is true!  I reckon they don’t call him the Buccaneer for nothing, but it’s hinted that he’s beginning to lose his grip.  I see your copita’s empty.  Will you take another drink?”

“No, thanks; I’ve had enough,” said Kit, who distrusted Olsen.  He thought the fellow’s careless remarks covered some curiosity and had tried to leave him in doubt.  Olsen probably imagined he was Adam’s clerk.

“You’re cautious, but one soon gets reckless here,” Olsen resumed.  “We are all adventurers, out for what we can get, and the chances against our making good are pretty steep.  My notion is to have the best time I can, pick up as much money as possible, and quit before fever, intrigue, or a revolution knocks me out.”

“It’s an exciting life,” Kit agreed.  “Money doesn’t seem plentiful.”

“You have got to hustle and back the right man.  Since you’re stopping at the presidio, it’s obvious that Askew’s on the president’s side.  Well, I suppose everybody knows my employers have put their money on Galdar.”

“Then, I imagine you run some risk.”

“Sure,” said Olsen, smiling.  “Alvarez doesn’t like me, and if I wasn’t an American citizen, I’d feel scared.  Showed his secretary my naturalization papers when I put up my shingle.  Took them out as soon as I reached the United States from Norway.”

Kit pondered.  Olsen spoke English and Castilian Well, but his accent was not American, nor, Kit thought, Scandinavian.  There were a number of Germans in the country, engaged in extensive but rather dark commercial schemes, whom the United States consuls watched with jealous eyes.  Kit knew that no one could transact much business without to some extent meddling with native politics, but while the other adventurers were satisfied with the money they could get, it looked as if the Germans wanted something else.  It was perhaps significant that Olsen had, so to speak, insisted that he was a naturalized American and came from Norway.  Kit doubted.

“Askew’s judgment is generally pretty good, but he’s getting old,” Olsen remarked.  “I don’t see why he’s backing the president; my notion is, Galdar’s surely going to win.”  He paused and looked at Kit thoughtfully.  “In fact, if I was holding a clerk’s job on the other side, I’d consider if it wouldn’t pay me to change.”

Kit imagined this was a cautious feeler, made to find out if he could be bought, but he smiled.

“If Galdar does win, he won’t have much to give his friends.”