later the brig dropped anchor off Cartagena, at little more
than a quarter of a mile from one of the batteries that guarded the
entrance to the port, and close to two or three of the craft that
had been first chased by the frigate. These, as they were going on
in the morning, had not entered the harbour with their consorts;
for it was already getting dusk.

"Not much fear of their coming to ask any questions, this evening,"
Joe Lockett said. "The Spaniards are not given to troubling
themselves unnecessarily and, as we are outside the port, we are no
one's business in particular."

At this moment a hail came from the vessel anchored ahead of them.
Bob went to the bulwark. The brig had swung head to wind, and was
broadside on with the other craft.

"You have not suffered from the fire of that accursed ship, I
hope?" the captain of the barque shouted.

"No, senor; not a shot struck us."

"You were fortunate. We were hulled twice, and had a man killed by
a splinter.

"This is a rough welcome home to us. We have just returned from
Lima, and have heard nothing about the war till we anchored off
Alicante, yesterday. We heard some firing as we came through the
Straits; but thought it was only one of the ships, or forts,
practising at a mark. It was lucky we put in at Alicante; or we
should have had no suspicion, and should have let that frigate sail
up alongside of us, without trying to escape."

"You were fortunate, indeed," Bob shouted back "We had, ourselves,
a narrow escape of being captured by a ship of war, near Malaga.
The Alonzo is only from Cadiz, with grain and olive oil."

"Do you think there is any fear of that rascally Englishman trying
to cut us out with his boats, tonight?"

"Not the slightest," Bob replied, confidently. "They would never
venture on that. Those batteries on shore would blow them out of
the water, and they would know very well they would not have a
shadow of chance of taking us out for, even if they captured us,
the batteries would send us to the bottom, in no time. Oh, no! you
are perfectly safe from the frigate, here."

The Spanish captain raised his hat. Bob did the same, and both left
the side of their ships.

"Well, what does he say, Bob?" the captain asked.

"I think you are in luck this time, captain, and no mistake."

"How is that, Bob?"

"She is from Lima."

"You don't say so!" the captain and Joe exclaimed, simultaneously.
"Then she is something like a prize. She has