At last, after an exciting battle, it was dispatched and cut up for division.

According to the unwritten laws among those fishermen, one half of it belonged to the sloop, and Paul was just telling them he did not want it, when the landlord of a little hotel in town, who happened to be on the beach, made a proposition to give a supper that night if he was given Boyton's share.

The unexpected offer was quickly accepted and sure enough, that night a magnificent spread was laid with the octopus served as the principal dish.

It was sometime before Paul could be persuaded to taste it, and then he found it to be the most delightful fish he had ever eaten--delicate of flavor and flesh of a slightly viscous nature.

The native fishermen look upon them as a rare luxury and always have a feast when one is caught.
Notwithstanding the very poor appliances possessed by Peru, two Chilean men-of-war were blown up during the struggle, by very clever tricks.
They were the Loa and the Covodonga.