214 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



to town to settle the unfortunate affair with Governor Vil- 

 lamill. The senor was exceeding wroth at the misadvent- 

 ure, and Spanish-like magnified the offense to an attack on* 

 his dignity, etc., etc., demanding the immediate surrender of 



the offenders. This, of course, Captain B peremptorily 



refused. The senor replied, " I will send thirty-five soldiers, 

 and take them from the ship." The captain informed him 

 that several times that force would be necessary for the job. 

 The governor then threatened to hold Captain B >- until 

 he surrendered the men, and to this the captain replied : 



" Senor, let us cease bantering. My men did very wrong 

 in killing the bull, and I am sorry for it. I will pay you 

 seventy-five dollars in cash, or one hundred in black-fish oil, 

 we keeping the beef. As for detaining me, I have provided 

 for that. My boat has returned on board, and if I am not 

 on the landing to meet it on its return, the second mate will 

 be here to look into the cause. We can count on the Elmi- 

 ra, and, my dear governor, there will be a sure row, if sixty 

 Yankees get a loose foot 'in this town of yours." 



On such representations the worthy man accepted the sev- 

 enty-five dollars and pocketed the affront. Thus happily 

 ended this tempest in a tea-pot. I may remark that Mr. 



F got the ship in a very pretty state of defense, on the 



captain's prudent hint. Captain Marchant offered aid if it 

 came to blows. I have an idea that the town was in peril 

 last night ; but the captain's return made all smooth again. 



Posey and myself, with a very intelligent young fellow 

 named Carson, belonging to the Elmira, proceeded back 

 from the beach to examine the lava bubbles, which are oc- 

 casionally found in these islands. Their name indicates their 

 formation. They sometimes are so thin as to form treach- 

 erous footing to the incautious traveler. Whenever we met 

 the rounded outline indicating a bubble, we tested its safety 

 will; ^ heavy stone, even though it was not directly in our 



