But Captain Claret must be obeyed. So off went the cutter, every man
armed to the teeth, the lieutenant-commanding having secret
instructions, and the midshipmen attending looking ominously wise,
though, in truth, they could not tell what was coming.

Gaining the sloop of war, the lieutenant was received with the
customary honours; but by this time the tall, bearded officer had
disappeared from the Quarter-deck. The Lieutenant now inquired for
the Peruvian Captain; and being shown into the cabin, made known to
him, that on board his vessel was a person belonging to the United
States Ship Neversink; and his orders were, to have that person
delivered up instanter.

The foreign captain curled his mustache in astonishment and
indignation; he hinted something about beating to quarters, and
chastising this piece of Yankee insolence.

But resting one gloved hand upon the table, and playing with his
sword-knot, the Lieutenant, with a bland firmness, repeated his
demand. At last, the whole case being so plainly made out, and the
person in question being so accurately described, even to a mole on
his cheek, there remained nothing but immediate compliance.

So the fine-looking, bearded officer, who had so courteously doffed
his chapeau to our Captain, but disappeared upon the arrival of the
Lieutenant, was summoned into the cabin, before his superior, who
addressed him thus:--

"Don John, this gentleman declares, that of right you belong to the
frigate Neversink. Is it so?"