at something is wrong, and will open fire on us.
That, of course, we must risk; but the thing to be really afraid of
is their gunboats. They are sure to have a couple of them in the
port. They may be some little time in getting out, but they will
come out."

The wind has died away, now, but the land breeze is just springing
up; but we shall hardly get off before the gunboats can come to us.
They row a lot of oars, you know. You must clap on all sail, on the
prizes; and I shall hang behind a bit, and tackle the gunboats. You
will see what guns there are on board the prizes; and may, perhaps,
be able to lend me a hand; but that you will see. Of course you
will take Bob with you, to answer the hails from the two Spaniards.

"Be careful when you bring up ashore. Let the men row very gently,
after they once get away, so as not to attract any attention. Let
them take cutlasses, but no pistols. If a shot were fired the
batteries would be sure, at once, there was some mischief going on.
A little shouting won't matter so much; it might be merely a
quarrel. Of course, the instant you are on board you will cut the
cables, and get up sail.

"You will remain on board the barque, Joe. Bob will have command of
the party that attack the polacre. You had better take the jolly
boat, and pick out twenty active fellows. Tell them to leave their
shoes behind them; the less trampling and noise there is, the
better. Tell them not to use their cutlasses, unless driven to it.
There are not likely to be above four or five men on deck. They
ought to be able to knock them down, and bind them, almost before
they know what has happened."

In a few minutes the boat was lowered, and manned, and rowed away
for the shore. As soon as they got well past the ships, the men
were ordered to row as quietly and noiselessly as possible. Joe had
brought with him six strips of canvas; and handed these to the men,
and told them to wrap them round the oars, so as to muffle them in
the rowlocks.

This was done, and the boat glided along silently. Keeping in the
middle of the channel, they passed through the passage between the
shore and the rocky island that protects the harbour; and then,
sweeping round, stole up behind the latter and lay to, close to the
rocks.

"So far, so good," Joe said, in a low voice. "I don't think the
sharpest eyes could have seen us. Now the question is, how long to
wait here. The longer we wait, the more of the Spaniards will hav