into his
bulwarks. He was not long before he swung round and replied. But we
were too low in the water to be in any danger from his bigger pieces,
and in a little while we were under his lee and swarming aboard. For a
few minutes there was as pretty a fight as man could wish for; then the
Spaniard struck his flag and threw down his weapons.

"Well, we rifled cabins and holds; got about a hundred goodly bars of
gold and a chest of pearls. The cabin gave us an excellent supply of
wine and some curious golden images of native workmanship. We helped
ourselves also to some better clothing, then let the Spaniard go his
way.

"For two more days we hung about the island, then seized a ship with a
cargo, mostly of silver bars. Our pinnace was now so heavily laden
that we durst not venture to put anything more aboard her. We were
rich enough already, and, knowing that the authorities at Panama would
soon hear of our exploits, we turned south to our river again, and set
out on our journey back to our hidden ship and the Atlantic.

"So far we had lost but two men, and one of these had died from fever.
Half a score of us, maybe, had received wounds. The Spanish dogs will
not fight much on a ship's deck, and the silver galleon offered us
hardly any resistance. 'Tis easy work enough, this gathering of
Spanish gold in the Indies. Do I speak within the strict bounds of
truth, comrades?"

"True as a Bible verse, Rob," said Nick Johnson; and brother Ned
assented with a seaman's "Ay! ay!"

Rob took advantage of the pause to take another peep into his flagon,
and Johnnie asked him if he could see bottom.

"Depth enough to float my barque a little longer," replied Rob.

"We did not waste much time feasting or merrymaking with our Indian
allies; we just stayed long enough for civility and the procuring of a
couple of canoes and rowers to ease the burden in our pinnace. Then we
set off up-stream. An under-chief came with us, and he was to obtain
carriers for our booty and provisions at the last village before we
should be forced to quit the river and take to the forests and
mountains. But we did not get along so quickly as we purposed at the
first. News of our victories over the detested Dons had spread like a
fire through the isthmus. Chiefs came to palaver, offer gifts, and sue
for our protection. The whole land wanted to shelter beneath the
banner of St. George, and our eastward voyage was a sort of triumphal
proce