A week later Mawkum, carrying a tin case addressed
to his sun-dried Excellency, passed up the
gangplank of the Tampico; this he placed in that
gentleman's hands. Inside its soldered top were
the plans and specifications of a First Order Light,
to be made of iron, to be properly packed, and
to have three coats of red lead before shipment--together
with a cross-section of foundation to be placed
on the reef known as "La Garra de Lobo"--The
Claw of the Wolf--outside the harbor of San Juan--
all at the risk of his Supreme Excellency, Senor
Tomas Correntes Garlicho, of the Republic of Moccador,
South America--the price of the ironwork to
hold good for three months.

On his return to the office Mawkum took up his
position once more at my window, waited until the
Tampico, the case and his Excellency were well on
their way to Sandy Hook and started in on other
work. The next day the incident, like so many similar
ventures--his racks were full of just such estimates
--was forgotten. If any of the bread thus cast
upon the waters came back, the chief would be glad,
and so would the Grandioso; if not, we were both
willing to cut a fresh slice to keep it company.