England, richer than the Spanish
conquerors of the Incas."

"Hurrah!" shouted his staunch followers. "On! On! to Guayaquil!"

So--steering for the coast of Ecuador--the privateers drew near this
rich Spanish-American town. A gulf lay before their eyes in which was
a small island; with a little, white-housed village (called Puna) on
its Eastern shore.

"Take the place!" cried Rogers, as the two ships forged into the
sleepy shallows, and rounded to before the peaceful habitation.

With a cheer, the sailors piled into the boats, rowed ashore,
and--with cutlass and dirk in hand--pressed through the narrow
streets. Shots rang out from a few of the thatched houses; two seamen
fell to the ground with mortal wounds; but, cheering wildly, the
privateers rushed through the narrow highway; pressed into the
court-house; and seized upon the Lieutenant-Governor of the town of
Guayaquil, as he was attempting to hide behind an old clothes-press.

"Let no man get away in order to warn the large town of our
approach!" shouted Captain Rogers. "Catch all who dash for the canoes
upon the beach!"

"Crush the bloomin' canoes!" yelled Cook, as he saw some of the
natives running towards them on the sandy shore. "Crush the canoes
before the devils can get there!"

"All right!" answered several of his men, as they ran for the clusters
of boats. "We'll put holes in them!"

As they hurried forward, several of the natives were ahead. Two jumped
into the bark boats and paddled furiously for Guayaquil. The _zip_,
_zip_ of bullets nipped the water around them, but,--with desperate
sweeps--they dug their blades into the sea and got safely off. As a
result, the city was all ready and prepared for the invaders.

"Ho! Ho!" laughed Rogers, as he thumbed the papers of the
Lieutenant-Governor. "What is this?"

"A warning to the townsfolk of Guayaquil," said one of his men, as he
peered over his shoulder.

Rogers chuckled.

"Beware, all you people"--he read--"of a squadron from the faraway
isles of Great Britain which is coming shortly upon you. There will be
full ten great ships, heavily manned and well armed for attack. The
arch rogue, William Dampier, will be in control,--he who has plundered
Puna before. Be on your guard, citizens! Be prepared! Arm yourselves!"

"Hah! Hah!" laughed the free-booting captain. "They think I'm
Dampier. That's good. But we'll have a tough time with them, for they
know that we mean to assault their pretty littl