Короли и капуста
The Admiral
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.