THE STEAM-SHOVEL MAN
of General Quesada, who instantly dropped the revolver. Walter's blood was up and he intended to deal thoroughly with this would-be murderer. Whacking him with the broom-handle, he drove him, bellowing, toward the nearest saloon entrance, while Alfaro danced behind them, shouting approval.
By now the first mate came charging down from the bridge. Captain Bradshaw arrived a moment later, clad in sky-blue pajamas, his bare feet pattering along the deck. He picked up the revolver, eyed Walter and the broom-handle with a comical air of surprise, and inquired:
"Who started this circus? Is it a revolution? I shall have to put a few of you fire-eaters in irons."
The parrot had rolled into the scuppers, cage and all, and its nerves were so shaken that it twisted its favorite oration wrong end to, and dolefully and quite appropriately chanted at intervals:
"Viva Colombia! Pobre Panama!"
Captain Bradshaw aimed an accusing finger at the bird and exclaimed:
"Shut up! You talk too much."
34
