Королі та капуста

           AndthenFelipefurtheradornedhimselfbyfasteningahandfulofbrilliantparrot’splumesinhiscap.Againhetrampedwithhisfaithfulcrewtothecollector’sofficeandformallynotifiedhimthatthesloop’snamehadbeenchangedtoElNacional.

           Duringthenextfewmonthsthenavyhaditstroubles.Evenanadmiralisperplexedtoknowwhattodowithoutanyorders.Butnonecame.Neitherdidanysalaries.ElNacionalswungidlyatanchor.

           WhenFelipe’slittlestoreofmoneywasexhaustedhewenttothecollectorandraisedthequestionoffinances.

           "Salaries!"exclaimedthecollector,withhandsraised;"ValgameDios!notonecentavoofmyownpayhaveIreceivedforthelastsevenmonths.Thepayofanadmiral,doyouask?Quiénsabe?Shoulditbelessthanthreethousandpesos?Mira!youwillseearevolutioninthiscountryverysoon.Agoodsignofitiswhenthegovernmentcallsallthetimeforpesos,pesos,pesos,andpaysnoneout."

           Felipeleftthecollector’sofficewithalookalmostofcontentonhissombreface.Arevolutionwouldmeanfighting,andthenthegovernmentwouldneedhisservices.Itwasratherhumiliatingtobeanadmiralwithoutanythingtodo,andhaveahungrycrewatyourheelsbeggingforrealestobuyplantainsandtobaccowith.

           Whenhereturnedtowherehishappy-go-luckyCaribswerewaitingtheysprangupandsaluted,ashehaddrilledthemtodo.

           "Come,muchachos,"saidtheadmiral;"itseemsthatthegovernmentispoor.Ithasnomoneytogiveus.Wewillearnwhatweneedtoliveupon.