away when they had all we brought under their hand? Besides,
this messenger had a password to give me that must have been right."

"You know best," said the mate gruffly. "Then what next?"

"Up anchor at once, and we sail round the foreland yonder till we can
open out the other valley and the river's mouth twenty miles along the
coast. Don Ramon and his men are gathering at Velova, and they want our
munition badly there."

"Right," said the mate abruptly. "Up anchor at once? Make a big
offing, I suppose?"

"No, we must hug the coast. I dare say they will have a gunboat
patrolling some distance out--a steamer--and with these varying winds
and calms we should be at their mercy. If we are taken, Don Ramon's
cause is ruined, poor fellow, and the country will be at the mercy of
that half-savage, President Villarayo. Brute! He deserves to be hung!"

"I don't like it," said Burgess gruffly.

"You don't like it!" cried the skipper. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Why, from here to Velova close in it's all rock-shoal
and wild current. It's almost madness to try and hug the coast."

"Oh, I see. But it's got to be done, Burgess. You didn't take
soundings and bearings miles each way for nothing last year."

"Tchah!" growled the mate. "One wants an apprenticeship to this coast.
I'll do what you want, of course, but I won't be answerable for taking
the _Teal_ safely into that next port."

"Oh yes, you will," said the skipper quietly. "If I didn't think you
would I should try to do it myself. Now then, there's no time to waste.
Look yonder. There's something coming out of the port now--a steamer,
I believe, from the way she moves, and most likely it's in reply to our
signals, and they're coming out to give us a surprise." The mate stood
for a few moments peering over the black waters in the direction of the
indicated lights.

"Yes," he growled, "that's a steamer; one of their gunboats, I should
say, and they are coming straight for here."

"How does he know that?" whispered Fitz, as the skipper and the mate now
moved away.

"The lights were some distance apart," replied Poole, "and they've swung
round till one's close behind the other. Now look, whatever the steamer
is she is coming straight for here. Fortunately there is a nice
pleasant breeze, but I hope we shall not get upon any of these fang-like
rocks."

"Yes, I hope so too," said Fitz excitedly; and then Poole left him, and
he stood li