e town."

His followers looked solemn.

"Let's attack, right away," cried several, "before the Spaniards have
time to prepare for our charge!"

Rogers, however, would not hear of it.

"We must rest. Equip ourselves. Place cannon in the bows of our boats,
and then we will be ready."

His men murmured, but they knew that when Rogers had made up his mind
upon a thing, there was no use in endeavoring to dissuade him. So they
collected what plunder was to be had and awaited his further orders.

Two days later all was ready for the advance. It was near
midnight--upon April 22nd,--when the command was passed around:

"Muffle your oars and take the town!"

With one hundred and ten men in the jolly boats, the privateers neared
the sleepy, little seaport. Not a sound broke the silence, save the
drip, drip of the sweeps, yet, as they approached the white-washed
walls of the lower town,--a bonfire was touched off upon the shore.

"'Tis well," whispered a stout sailor. "Now we can see to shoot!"

As he said this, many lights appeared in the houses of Guayaquil. The
townspeople were wide awake.

"What means this, sirrah?" thundered Rogers at a native guide, who was
piloting him to the shore.

The fellow had a ready answer.

"'Tis the celebration of All Saints Day," he answered smiling. "The
people here are good Christians."

"They know that we are coming," growled the English captain, for, as
the native spoke, a Spaniard upon the shore was heard to shout:

"Puna has been captured! The enemy is advancing! Arm! Arm!"

Bells clanged from the steeples of the little churches. Muskets and
guns went off. Black masses could be seen surging into the streets.
Cannon roared, and a screeching shot spun ahead of the on-coming
boats.

"'Tis nothing," said Rogers. "The alarm has only just been given.
Preparations are not complete and we can rush them, easily."

But Captain Cook had his own opinion upon the affair.

"The Buccaneers," said he, "never attack any large place after it is
alarmed. My advice is to keep away."

"Don't go in," cried several. "Wait and rush them when they are not so
well prepared."

Even the men seemed disinclined to advance.

Thus cautious counsel prevailed: the boats dropped down-stream
again--about three miles below the town--and were joined by two small
barques. They were prizes which had been recently captured. Here the
flotilla lay while the cries in the city grew inaudible,--for the
inhabi