en?"

"You will be permitted to return to the shore without molestation,"
answered George. "But," he continued, "as soon as you shall have
arrived and are landed, I shall seize every ship in this harbour; and,
that done, shall proceed to bombard your town until you see fit to
surrender it to me unconditionally!"

More perturbation, more shaking of heads and agitated waving of hands,
followed by further excited discussion lasting for close upon a quarter
of an hour, after which the alcalde, standing in the midst of his
companions and again addressing himself to George, observed:

"Most illustrious senor, we, the alcalde and twelve of the
representatives of the inhabitants of the city of San Juan de Ulua, have
decided to rely upon your assurances, and now declare ourselves ready to
board your ship, there to listen with all deference and attention to
such communication as you may desire to make to us." And therewith the
old gentleman, bowing with much dignity, seated himself, replaced his
hat, and gave an order to the steersman of the boat, who repeated it to
the oarsmen; whereupon the boat got under way and pulled up alongside to
where the gangway ladder already hung over the side for the
accommodation of the Committee. And while this was doing, George,
followed by his little knot of officers, descended from the poop to the
main deck and grouped themselves about the gangway in readiness to
receive their by no means willing visitors.

Don Juan Alvarez, the alcalde of San Juan de Ulua, was the first to
ascend the side and pass through the _Nonsuch's_ gangway, when, again
removing his hat and bowing profoundly to the little group of
Englishmen, he stood aside until his twelve companions had joined him,
when he proceeded to ceremoniously introduce them, one after the other,
until he had named them all. Then George followed suit in like fashion,
first introducing himself and then each of his officers to the group of
visitors.

This ceremony duly performed, the alcalde once more took up the tale.

"Most illustrious senors," he said, bowing to the Englishmen
collectively, "touching the exceedingly delicate matter of treachery,
you have the assurance of myself and colleagues that, so far as the city
is concerned, you may absolutely depend that nothing of an overt nature
shall be permitted to occur until an understanding of some sort--an
amicable one, we all trust--shall have been arrived at between us. But
with regard