e starboard-bow, and clear
open water right ahead, while as the dawn lifted more and more, it was
to show a high ground jungle and the beautiful curve of another bay
formed by a couple of ridges about three miles apart running down into
the sea.

"There," cried Poole triumphantly; "we have been running the gauntlet of
dangerous rocks all night, and we've won. That's Velova Bay. You will
see the city directly, just at the mouth of the valley. Lovely place.
It's the next city to San Cristobal."

"Fetch my glass, Poole," said the skipper; and upon its being brought
its owner took a long searching sweep of the coast as he stood by the
mate's side.

"I can only make out a few small vessels," he said; "nothing that we
need mind. Run straight in, and we can land everything before the
gunboat can get round, even if she comes, which is doubtful, after all."

"Yes, knowing how we can sail."

The boys were standing near, and heard all that was said, for their
elders spoke freely before them.

"What about choice of place for landing?" asked the mate.

"Oh, we will go up as close as we can get. Ramon is sure to have a
strong party there to help, and in a very short time he would be able to
knock up an earthwork and utilise the guns as we get them ashore. That
would keep the gunboat off if she comes round."

"Yes," said the mate quietly, and he handed over the wheel to one of the
men, the sea being quite open now between them and the shore a few miles
away.

"Well," said the skipper, "what do you make of it?" For the mate was
shading his eyes and looking carefully round eastward.

"Have a look yourself," was the gruff reply.

The skipper raised the glass he had lowered to his side, and swept the
horizon eastward; knowing full well the keenness of his subordinate's
eyes, he fully expected to see some suspicious vessel in sight, but that
had not taken the mate's attention, for as soon as the glass had
described about the eighth of a circle the skipper lowered it again and
gave an angry stamp with his foot.

"Was ever such luck!" he cried.

"No," replied the mate; "it is bad. But there is only one thing to be
done."

"Yes, only one thing. We must get out while we can, and I don't know
but what we may be too late even now."

For the next few minutes all was busy on board the schooner. It was
'bout ship, and fresh sail was set, their course being due east, while
as soon as Fitz could get Poole to answer a que