his tent and dispatched swift messengers along the track across
the isthmus; the Spanish troops were lagging somewhere on the road, and
must needs be hurried.

All that night, sleepless, noiseless Indians lay near the ship and
heard every call of the watch. With the coming of the dawn they
slipped farther back, but maintained a close espionage. Basil's
messenger returned. The troops were bivouacked not far away. They
would start with the earliest light, and might be expected within two
hours of sunrising. The natives were sent down to the fringe of the
bay to keep unseen watch over every movement of the Englishmen. Basil
waited for the white troops. His plans were carefully made, and he
hoped to capture the ship and every soul of her company.

Morgan and Jeffreys pushed their way through the trees, seeking some
open glade where deer might be feeding. Each carried bow and arrows,
so that the quarry might be obtained without raising any alarm that
might arouse near-dwelling natives or any chance party of Spaniards.
The laughter of their comrades died away behind them little by little,
and was presently lost altogether. Once or twice the undergrowth
rustled, and both paused, hoping to sight some eatable prey; but they
saw nothing, and wandered farther and farther on.

They had gone for nearly a mile, when suddenly an Indian stood in their
path. The fellow paused for an instant, then turned and fled as though
in affright. Both were about to cry out to reassure him, when they
were stealthily assailed from behind. A native cloth or blanket was
thrown over the head of each; brown arms closed round and pinioned
their limbs. They were thrown to the ground, and a heavy blow on the
head rendered them unconscious. They had no chance to cry out, and
were trapped with scarcely a struggle. When they recovered their
senses they were in a canoe going rapidly up-stream; their heads were
still muffled, and their limbs bound with tight thongs.

Between the trees the digging went on merrily enough. About three feet
down a skull was found; then another; then various human bones. These
gruesome discoveries checked the singing and laughter, and for a while
the men worked in silence. But there was nothing to dull the spirits
of the water-carriers, and they romped and skylarked like a party of
schoolboys. Those on board ship envied their companions who were
ashore, and the relief digging party leant over the bulwarks, e