Dicky

           ThereislittleconsecutivenessalongtheSpanishMain.Thingshappenthereintermittently.EvenTimeseemstohanghisscythedailyonthebranchofanorangetreewhilehetakesasiestaandacigarette.

           AftertheineffectualrevoltagainsttheadministrationofPresidentLosada,thecountrysettledagainintoquiettolerationoftheabuseswithwhichhehadbeencharged.InCoraliooldpoliticalenemieswentarm-inarm,lightlyeschewingforthetimealldifferencesofopinion.

           Thefailureoftheartexpeditiondidnotstretchthecat-footedKeoghuponhisback.TheupsanddownsofFortunemadesmoothtravellingforhisnimblesteps.HisbluepencilstubwasatworkagainbeforethesmokeofthesteameronwhichWhitesailedhadclearedawayfromthehorizon.HehadbuttospeakawordtoGeddietofindhiscreditnegotiableforwhatevergoodshewantedfromthestoreofBrannigan&Company.OnthesamedayonwhichWhitearrivedinNewYorkKeogh,attherearofatrainoffivepackmulesloadedwithhardwareandcutlery,sethisfacetowardthegrim,interiormountains.TheretheIndiantribeswashgolddustfromtheauriferousstreams;andwhenamarketisbroughttothemtradingisbriskandmuybuenointheCordilleras.

           InCoralioTimefoldedhiswingsandpacedwearilyalonghisdrowsypath.Theywhohadmostcheeredthetorpidhoursweregone.ClancyhadsailedonaSpanishbarqueforColon,contemplatingacutacrosstheisthmusandthenafurthervoyagetoendatCalao,wherethefightingwassaidtobeon.