"But bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon, when Tom
objected to so much notoriety. "You did it all; didn't you?"
"Yes, I know. But these people won't believe it."
"Oh, yes they will!" said the odd man. "I'll take good
care that they believe it."
"If any one say it not so, you tell me!" broke Koku,
shaking his huge fist.
"No, I guess I'd better keep still," said Tom, with a
laugh.
The weather was pleasant, if we except a shower or two,
and as the vessel proceeded south, tropical clothing became
the order of the day, while all who could, spent most of
their time on deck under the shade of awnings.
"Did you ever hear anything more of that fellow,
Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr. Titus one day.
"Not a thing. He seems to have dropped out of sight."
"And are your rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, making any
trouble?"
"Not that I've heard of. Though just what the situation
may be down in Peru I don't know. I fancy everything isn't
going just right or my brother would not be so anxious for
me to come on in such a hurry."
"Do you anticipate any real trouble?"
Mr. Titus paused a moment before answering.
"Well, yes," he said, finally, "I do!"
"What sort?" asked Tom.
"That I can't say. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Tom.
You know I told you at the time that we were in for
difficulties. I didn't want you to go into this thing
blindly.
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