n Drake. Putting the two things together,
it is supposed that misfortune overtook a portion of his fleet, and
that two of his men managed to save their lives, and are now
lurking somewhere about the neighborhood I hear that the governor
has ordered a strict search to be set on foot, and that a large
reward is to be offered for the discovery of any signs of the
fugitives."

The next day, the boys heard that the persons to whom the story had
been traced had been taken before the governor, and strictly
examined, and that he was fully convinced of the truth of the
story. Three days afterwards, Don Sagasta brought them a copy of a
notice which had been placed in the marketplace, offering a reward
of 1000 dollars for any news which would lead to the capture of the
English pirates, and announcing the severest punishment upon any
who should dare to conceal, or to assist them.

Gerald at once said that, rather than be a cause of anxiety to
their kind host and his daughter, they would give themselves up.
This offer was, however, indignantly refused by Don Sagasta.

"No, no," he said; "this must not be. I might take you into the
house, but I fear that with so many servants, some of whom are as
bigoted as any of us whites, you would be sure to be discovered;
and they would either reveal in confession, or disclose to the
authorities, the fact of your concealment. The only plan which
promises to offer safety, that I can suggest, is that you shall
take to the mountains. There are many runaways there, and although
sometimes they are hunted down and slain; yet they have caverns,
and other places of concealment, where you might remain for years.
I will speak to David about it, at once."

David, on being questioned, said that there was an old native
woman, living at a hut a little way off, who had the reputation of
having the evil eye, and who was certainly acquainted with the
doings of the runaways. If any slave wished to send a message, to
one of his friends who had taken to the hills, the old woman would,
for a present, always convey, or get it conveyed, to the man for
whom it was intended. He thought that it would be absolutely
necessary that some such means should be taken of introducing the
boys to the runaways; otherwise, hunted as these were, they would
either fly when they saw two whites approaching, or would surround
and destroy them.

Don Sagasta at once accepted the suggestion, and David was
dispatched to the old woman