"By Jove! I'll try and oblige you, my boy," he declared, enthusiastically, as he dropped down upon the thwart.
There would be no broken heads, no old time boarding of the craft, no hot time in the harbor _that_ night.
Reason had resumed her sway, pushing valor and blind passion into the background.
One there was whom disappointment cut to the quick.
A figure arose in the boat, a bedraggled figure, with one arm of his evening coat almost divorced from its moorings on account of the vigor shown by the British tars in dragging the owner aboard--a figure that was just the opposite of the usually dandified Jerome, the pink of neatness, the epitome of current style.
"What," he ejaculated, "you decline to go aboard and drag the fellow away? I am astonished beyond measure--I did not expect this of you, Captain Bob."
"Well, I'm satisfied with the explanation given. If you still object, sir, we'll hold the boat here and let you go aboard and get him. Of course you'd have to shoulder the whole responsibility--"
"Pull away," muttered Jerome, suddenly dropping back to his seat and endeavoring to look as small as possible.
The Adonis had discovered that he was the cynosure of bright eyes from the cabin--all this excitement had not passed without arousing Cleo and Miss Becky--the former had not really retired at all, but awaited her cousin's return from his mission of love--perhaps her earnest prayers had followed him, even to the arms of her successful rival.
The blockade runner's boat shot quickly over the darkened water toward the lights that indicated the spot where the steamer was anchored.
Captain Beven turned and shook Roderic's hand.
He was bubbling over with suppressed laughter.
"Congratulations, sir, over your success. A miss is as good as a mile, they say," he declared.
"Ah!" remarked the satisfied lover, "in this case it is a senorita, and she is worth many miles. My thanks are due to you, captain, for the able assistance given. May all our future plans be founded on as firm a basis."
He was thinking of that basket of very Extra Dry, and the taste still lingered as though its memory would haunt him for many a day.
For once he stood ready to immolate his comfort on the altar of friendship every night, providing the emolument came in such pleasant fashion.