the grip of his fingers which convinced the other that he was
speaking seriously now.

"Do you remember what started the revolution down in Honduras the
second week after we struck Puerto Barrios, Greggy? It was a girl,
wasn't it?"

"Yes, and she wasn't half pretty at that."

"It was less than a girl," went on Philip. "Scene: the palm plaza
at Ceiba. President Belize is drinking wine with his cousin, the
fiancee of General O'Kelly Bonilla, the half Irish, half Latin-
American leader of his forces, and his warmest friend. At a moment
when their corner of the plaza is empty Belize helps himself to a
cousinly kiss. O'Kelly, unperceived, arrives in time to witness
the act. From that moment his friendship for Belize turns to
hatred and jealousy. Within three weeks he has started a
revolution, beats the government forces at Ceiba, chases Belize
from the capital, gets Nicaragua mixed up in the trouble, and
draws three French, two German, and two American war-ships to the
scene. Six weeks after the wine-drinking he is President of the
Republic, en facto. And all of this, Greggy, because of a kiss.
Now, if a kiss can start a revolution, unseat a President, send a
government to smash, what must be the possibilities of a fish?"

"I'm getting interested," said Gregson. "If there's a climax, come
to it, Phil. I admit that there must be enormous possibilities in
--a fish. Go on!"