a short distance when a number of negroes rushed
suddenly out upon them. Will had just time to discharge his pistols before
he was knocked senseless by a negro armed with a bludgeon. Tom and
Dimchurch stood over him and made a desperate defence, and just before
they were overpowered Dimchurch shouted at the top of his voice: "Put off,
we are captured," for he saw that the number of their assailants was so
great that it would only be sacrificing the crew to call them to their
assistance. They were bound and carried away by the exulting negroes.

[Illustration: "TOM AND DIMCHURCH MADE A DESPERATE DEFENCE"]

"This is a bad job," Will said when he came to his senses.

"A mighty bad job, Master Will. Who are these niggers, do you think?"

"I suppose they are escaped slaves; there are certainly many of them in
the mountains of Cuba. I suppose they saw us sailing in, and came down
from the hills in the hope of capturing some of us. It is likely enough
they take us for pirates, who are a constant scourge to them, capturing
them in their little fishing-boats and either cutting their throats or
forcing them to serve with them. I am afraid we shall have but very little
opportunity of explaining matters to them, for, of course, they don't
speak English, and none of us understand a word of Spanish."

They were carried up the hill and thrown down in a small clearing on the
summit. Will in vain endeavoured to address them in English, but received
no attention whatever.

"What do you think they are going to do with us, sir?" Dimchurch asked.

"Well, I should say that they are most likely going to burn us alive, or
put us to death in some other devilish way."

"Well, sir, I don't think these niggers know much about tying ropes. It
seems to me that I could get free without much trouble."

"Could you, Dimchurch? I can't say as much, for mine are knotted so
tightly that I cannot move a finger."

"That won't matter, sir. If I can shift out of mine I have got my
jack-knife in my pocket, and can make short work of your ropes and Tom's."

"Well, try then, Dimchurch. Half those fellows are away in the wood, and
by the sounds we hear they are cutting brushwood; so there is no time to
lose."

For five minutes no remark was made, and then Dimchurch said: "I am free."
Immediately afterwards Will felt his bonds fall off, and half a minute
later an exclamation of thankfulness from Tom showed that he too had been
liberated.

"Now we mu