g which the anxiety and apprehension of
the alcalde and his associates visibly increased, which was precisely
the effect that the astute young captain desired to produce. At length,
however, certain sounds from the deck outside reached the ears of those
in the cabin, announcing the arrival of the men from the fleet, while
other sounds, especially those of Spanish voices raised high in angry
protest, proclaimed, a little later, that the new arrivals were being
conducted below somewhat against their will; and finally Dyer appeared
in the doorway with the information that the Spanish sailors had been
taken below and were safe under guard; whereupon George rose to his feet
and, addressing his visitors in his best Spanish, said:

"Now, senors, every precaution that we could think of has been taken to
insure the undisturbed discussion of the business which has brought me
and my compatriots to San Juan de Ulua; with your permission, therefore,
we will proceed."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

HOW GEORGE PROCEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF SAN JUAN.

An uneasy stir among his audience followed this brief introduction,
showing clearly the highly-wrought condition of the Spaniards' nerves as
they leaned forward in their seats and fixed their eyes intently upon
the speaker's face. To still further increase the tension betrayed in
the faces and attitudes of his audience, George paused impressively for
a few seconds, and then resumed:

"A year ago," said he, "seven ships, storm torn and shattered, put into
this harbour in order to refit. They were manned by Englishmen, fellow-
countrymen of my own and those with me. They had been engaged in lawful
and peaceful trade with various ports along the Main, and entered this
harbour with the utmost confidence, secure in the conviction that,
having committed no offence, they might implicitly rely upon Spanish
honour. When they arrived, they found twelve defenceless plate ships,
laden with gold and silver, in the harbour; and had they been so
disposed my countrymen could have seized those ships, or as many of them
as they chose to take, and sailed away in them, leaving their own
damaged craft behind them; and nobody could have said them nay. But my
countrymen were traders, not pirates; and great though the temptation
must have been, they left those galleons alone, asking only the
hospitality of your harbour and permission to refit their ships without
molestation. Also when, upon the day