mouth. I came up here in a boat to meet you
and get your instructions, after, as you know, being checked at San
Cristobal and Velova, where your emissaries brought your despatches."

"Brave, true fellows! But the gunboat! Were you seen?"

"Seen? Yes, and nearly taken. I only escaped by the skin of my teeth."

"You were too clever," cried the Don enthusiastically. "But you should
have sunk that gunboat. It would have meant life and success to me.
Why did not you send her to the bottom?"

"Well," said the skipper quietly, "first, because I am not at war, and
second, because she would have sent me to the bottom if I had tried."

"No, no," cried the Don enthusiastically. "You English are too clever
and too brave. The captain of that gunboat is a fool. You could easily
have done this thing. But you have the guns you brought all safe
aboard?"

"Yes."

"And you have some of your brave men with you?"

"Yes; more than half my crew."

"Then I am saved, for you will fight upon my side, and every one of your
brave Englishmen is worth a hundred of the miserable three parts Indian
rabble bravos and cut-throats who follow Villarayo's flag."

"Well, I didn't come here to fight, Don Ramon, and I have no right to
strengthen your force," said the skipper sternly. "My duty is to land
the munitions of war consigned to you; and that duty I shall do."

"But your men! They are armed?"

"Oh yes. Every one has his rifle and revolver, and knows how to use
them."

"And suppose you are attacked?" said the Don, catching him by the arm.

"Well," said the skipper dryly, "we English have a habit of hitting back
if we are tackled, and if anybody interferes with us in what we have to
do, I dare say we shall give a pretty good account of ourselves. But at
the present moment it seems to me that it's my duty to get back to my
ship and wait until you show me where I can land my cargo."

"Ah!" said the Don, and as he spoke Fitz had his first announcement that
day was near at hand, for he began to dimly see the eager, animated
countenance of the Spaniard, and to make out the figures of his
well-armed followers clustering round.

"Well, sir, what is to be done?"

"One moment; let me think. It will be safest, perhaps, for you to
return to the ship and wait."

"Where?" said the skipper. "That gunboat is hanging about the coast,
waiting to capture us if she can."

"Yes, I know; I know. And ashore Villarayo's men are swarmin