make you feel badly. I have asked the Admiral if I can send
those half-breed engine drivers over to-morrow to show them what
a clean engine-room looks like. I've just been talking to the
chief. His name's MacKenzie, and I told him I was Scotch myself,
and he said it `was a greet pleesure' to find a gentleman so well
acquainted with the movements of machinery. He thought I was one
of King's friends, I guess, so I didn't tell him I pulled a lever
for a living myself. I gave him a cigar though, and he said,
`Thankee, sir,' and touched his cap to me.''

MacWilliams chuckled at the recollection, and crossed his legs
comfortably. ``One of King's cigars, too,'' he said. ``Real
Havana; he leaves them lying around loose in the cabin. Have you
had one? Ted Langham and I took about a box between us.''

Clay made no answer, and MacWilliams settled himself contentedly
in the great wicker chair and puffed grandly on a huge cigar.

``It's demoralizing, isn't it?'' he said at last.

``What?'' asked Clay, absently.

``Oh, this associating with white people again, as we're doing
now. It spoils you for tortillas and rice, doesn't it? It's
going to be great fun while it lasts, but when they've all gone,
and Ted's gone, too, and the yacht's vanished, and we fall back
to tramping around the plaza twice a week, it won't be gay, will
it? No; it won't be gay. We're having the spree of our lives
now, I guess, but there's going to be a difference in the
morning.''