afest
where we are."

"Yes; Chips is right," said Fitz. "It would be very dangerous unless we
could get them on the run. I wouldn't do that."

"What would you do, then?" said Poole.

"Well," said Fitz, "you told me I was not a player, and that it was your
game."

"Yes, but that was before you began peppering the beggars with that
double gun."

"Now, that's too bad," cried Fitz petulantly. "There, I've done now."

"No, you haven't. You have got something on your mind, and if it's a
dodge to help us all out of this mess, you are not the fellow to keep it
back. So come; out with it."

"Well, I'll tell you what I've been thinking," said Fitz, "almost ever
since I heard what that Mr Miguel said about the reinforcements coming
from Velova."

"What, to crush us up?" said Poole. "Enough to make any one think! But
what about it?"

"Why, the fort and earthworks will be emptied and all the fighting men
on the way to-morrow to come and fight us here."

"Of course, and they'll be here some time to-morrow afternoon, and if
they don't beat us they will be going back with sore heads; but I am
afraid that those of us who are left will be going back as prisoners.
Is that what you meant?"

"No," said Fitz, and without heeding a faint rustling sound such as
might have been made by some wild creature, or an enemy stealing up to
listen to their words, he went on: "I was thinking that this is what we
ought to do--I mean your father and the Don--steal off at once without
making a sound, all of us, English and Spaniards too, down to that
timber-wharf."

"But suppose the enemy have got scouts out there?"

"I don't believe they have. After that last thrashing they drew off
ever so far, and that President is doing nothing but wait for the coming
of his reinforcements."

"That sounds right, Mr Poole, sir," said the carpenter.

"Well, it's likely," said Poole, and the faint rustling went on unheard.
"But what then?"

"Whistle up the boat. The men would know your signal."

"Yes?"

"Load her up till the water's above the streak, and let her drop down
with the stream. I noticed that it ran pretty fast. Land the men at
the mouth; leave them to signal for the schooner to come within reach--
they could do that with the lantern, or a bit of fire on the shore, if
they didn't hear the captain's pipe--and while they are doing that, four
men with oars row back as hard as ever they could go, to fetch another
boat-load."

"