The sailors would interfere.
Certainly they would lay hold of the assassin." "Ah, but the sailors do not come ashore armed," the consul warned his visitor.

"On the other hand, most of the Mexicans go about to-day with arms concealed about them.

A fight between a sailor and a Mexican might, just now, be enough to start a riot." Dave listened attentively.

He was not in the least alarmed by the possibility of an attack being made upon his person, but he had the natural distaste of a naval officer for being the innocent cause of strained relations between his country and another nation.
When the stenographer brought in the papers that had been dictated to him, the consul looked them through, then signed them.
"Here is a packet of communications for your captain," said the consul, handing a bulky envelope to Darrin.

"One of the communications enclosed, Mr.Darrin, is of so important a nature that you will have an added reason for keeping your weather eye open against any form of trouble that Senor Cosetta might start for you in the streets." "At any time and in any place," Dave smiled, earnestly, "I would take the best possible care of official papers entrusted to me." "I am aware of that, Mr.Darrin," replied the consul smiling.
"But the paper in question is one that it would greatly embarrass the United States to have fall into improper hands.