the pilot, he issued to
them certain instructions. Then, turning to the alcalde, who had stood
by, listening, but understanding nothing of what was being said, George
remarked:

"Senor Alvarez, as you have just seen, I have issued certain
instructions to two of my officers, and they are these. Don Ricardo
Basset, my military commandant, I have instructed to muster ten of his
soldiers, fully armed and equipped, to accompany me ashore, under him,
as a body guard. And to Don Roberto Dyer, my lieutenant, I have given
instructions that the gentlemen whom I have considered it necessary to
retain as hostages are to be treated with the utmost possible courtesy,
so long as all matters go well, but that upon the slightest sign or
indication of treachery upon the part of your countrymen, either ashore
or afloat, he is to hang them, one after the other, at those yard-arms,
up there. Also, he is to keep his guns trained upon the town and, in
the event of none of the landing party returning before sunset, open
fire upon it forthwith. I have explained these matters to you in order
that you may realise that upon you, and upon the success with which you
are able to impress upon your compatriots the absolute necessity for
complete submission, depends the lives of the hostages whom you are
leaving behind you. Ah! here comes Senor Basset with his guard; and I
see that the boat is also ready; therefore, as there may be much to be
done between this and sunset, we will go as soon as you are ready,
senor."

Whereupon Don Juan Alvarez, the alcalde of San Juan de Ulua, hurried
back to the great state cabin to reassure and bid farewell to the
hostages, and then, returning to the deck, accompanied George to the
boat, where Basset and his men had already taken their places; and the
party pushed off and headed for the landing place.

Although it was a city, San Juan was, at this period of its history, but
a very small place, of little more than a square mile in area, with only
two streets at all worthy of the name, these two streets traversing each
other at right angles and crossing in the centre of the city, the
junction of the two being at the Grand Plaza, or Square, one side of
which was occupied by the Cathedral, while the other three sides were
given up to the Government and Municipal Buildings. It was to one of
these last, a large and imposing building with the arms of Spain boldly
sculptured upon its pediment, that the alcalde cond