That's how I got my
news. Panza had heard all about it, and as soon as he sees me he starts
talkin' about it, not knowin' that I'd been shipped off in the
_Magdalena_; and I just let him talk, puttin' in a question here and
there until I'd found out all about it. As to the gold train, I don't
think there's much doubt about it, because the news in the town is that
a runner came in from Barranca this morning with a message from the
commandant that the train had arrived there last night, and might be
expected at Cartagena some time to-morrow, most likely pretty late in
the evening. I was wondering whether it 'ud be possible for us to lay
in wait for the train somewhere on the road, and get hold of the gold
that way; but that plan ain't any good, because the three hundred sojers
that's to go home in the ship are comin' down with it; and sixty men
again' three hundred is rather long odds."

"Yes," I agreed, "too long for my purpose, at all events; for I have no
doubt that the rascals would make a stubborn fight for it; and even if
we should succeed in capturing the gold, we should certainly lose a good
number of our men, while I want to get the gold, and the ship too,
without any loss at all, if it can be managed."

"Ay, sir," answered Hoard. "But I don't see how it can."

"Well, I have a plan," said I, "and you, perhaps, with your knowledge of
the place, will be able to tell me what chance there is of its being
successful. And, first of all, do you happen to know how many men are
stationed in that battery there that guards the entrance channel?"

"Yes, sir, I think I can tell you pretty nearly," answered Hoard;
"because, d'ye see, afore I was sent aboard the _Magdalena_ I was one of
the slaves that had to man the water-boat that took 'em their daily
supply of fresh water, there bein' none on the island. How many men?
Well, I should say that, countin' all hands, officers and men together,
there's a matter of nigh on to eighty of 'em."

"No more than that?"

"No, sir; certainly not more than eighty. Call 'em eighty, and you'll
not be very far wrong; over the mark a trifle, if anything."

"Very well, then," said I. "This is my plan. You say that the gold is
to be put aboard the galleon the day after to-morrow. The fact of its
shipment must be absolutely established, and, in order that it may be
so, I propose that you shall remain ashore--if you think you can do so
without fear of discovery--and witness for you