any minutes later when, attracted by a group of the lovely
insects playing about the shrubs that were in full bloom, Fitz had hung
back, making them an excuse while he rested, standing mopping his face,
streaming with perspiration, while Poole, no less willing to enjoy a few
minutes' halt, stood looking back watching him.

Meanwhile the skipper had gone on, closely followed by the men, and
passed out of sight. And then the few minutes became a few minutes
more, neither of the lads noting the lapse of time, for everything
around was so beautiful that they had no thought for the task in hand,
nor fear of being interrupted by any of the enemy who might be near.

Everything was so dreamy and beautiful that Poole cast his eyes around
in search of some fallen trunk, with the idea that nothing could be more
delightful than to sit down there in the shade and drowse the time away.

Then he was awake again, for from somewhere ahead, but so far off that
it sounded quite faint, there came a shout--

"Ahoy! Poole!"

The lad ran, rifle in hand, to answer his father's call, but only to
stop short to look round sharply, feeling that he was leaving Fitz
behind.

"Oh, there you are," he cried, as he caught sight of the lad following
swiftly after. "I thought that you were not coming."

"I was obliged to. You don't suppose that I want to be left alone here
by myself?"

"No, I suppose not. 'Tis a wild spot. It wouldn't be very pleasant if
one of the enemy came upon you. You'd be rather safer along with us.
Come on; we had better run. Mind how you come. These logs are rather
slippery where the sun doesn't shine."

"Yes, and you had better mind, or some of this tangled stuff that's
growing up between will trip you up. Rather awkward if your gun went
off."

A few minutes later they came up to where the skipper was standing
waiting for them.

"Found the place, father?"

"Yes; it's just over yonder in a clearing beyond those trees."

"Where are the men?"

"Inside the house."

"Has Don Ramon come?"

"No. There's not a soul in sight. I can't see any signs of a fight,
but it looks to me as if the enemy had been destroying all they came
across. I hope they didn't come upon him and take him prisoner, but it
looks very bad."

"What shall you do, father?"

"What he told me, my boy: take possession, and hold it if the enemy come
back. I have told the men to try and knock up a breastwork and close up
the windows.