knowing what barbarous
excesses they might indulge in, which would necessitate the English
making common cause with the Spaniards to protect the latter, and so
convert the friendly feeling of the Cimarrones for the English into
deadly enmity, which was a consummation to be carefully avoided.

The creek which Dyer proposed to enter proved to be so small, when at
length the _Nonsuch_ arrived in it, that, anchored as nearly as might be
in its centre, there was only barely enough room to allow the vessel to
swing clear of the banks when riding to a very short scope of cable. It
was so late when the adventurers arrived in this miniature harbour that
the fast-fading light showed but little of the surroundings save the
fact that the place was completely land-locked, and was so hemmed-in on
all sides by lofty trees of the virgin forest that, even moored as she
was to a single anchor and a short scope of cable, the ship might ride
there safely in practically all weathers, while the lofty trees
effectually screened her presence both seaward and landward. The canvas
was hastily furled, and then the crew went below to supper, with the
understanding that after supper they would be permitted to turn in and
take a long night's rest. But they were warned that, secluded and cut
off as the place appeared to be, it was not without its dangers, and
they must hold themselves prepared to turn out and fight for their lives
at a moment's notice, while a strong and alert anchor watch must be
maintained all through the night.

Not that there was much danger of an attack from the Spaniards, for
close as the creek was to the port and town of Nombre, it was still
sufficiently distant to render observation of the presence of the
English ship more than doubtful. No, it was of the Cimarrones that Dyer
was apprehensive, for if by any chance the presence of the ship in the
creek should be prematurely discovered by these, an attack by them upon
her would be more than likely to follow. For so deadly was the hatred
borne by these savages for the Spaniards that, to find a few of the
latter isolated and apparently at their mercy was quite sufficient
inducement to the former to attack them. And so ignorant were the
Cimarrones that they could scarcely discriminate between an Englishman
and a Spaniard, and were equally ready to attack either--both being
white--on the general principle that it was better that the innocent
should suffer than that the guilt