"Also ascertain the hour of the barque's departure," said Carew. "This is what I suggest. You know that the south-east trade wind does not blow home on this coast, but is deflected and becomes a north-east wind. In consequence of this, all vessels bound for Europe from Rio are obliged to take a long board of several hundreds of miles to the eastward before they fall in with the true trade wind, and go about on the other tack. Thus we know the exact course the barque will take. She will sail away close-hauled on the port-tack. We will put to sea six hours before her, and await her some ten leagues from the land. Do you understand?" "Perfectly. I see you know what you are about, sir." "Now call the crew aft," said Carew, "and let us learn at once what they think of our proposal." Baptiste raised the hatch of the forecastle and roused the men. They quickly tumbled on deck. "I am sorry to say, comrades, that you can't go on shore here," said the mate in Spanish. They swore and grumbled in sonorous Castilian phrases that had best be left untranslated. "Now no insubordination," continued Baptiste; "the captain would not deprive you of a day's holiday after so long a voyage unless he had urgent reasons for doing so." "Reasons indeed!" muttered El Toro. "He who wants reasons can always find them." "Silence, you old calf! Listen! We shall most probably sail to-day, for there is a treasure waiting for us outside." El Chico pricked up his ears. "What! another _Vrouw Elisa_?" he asked. "Something of the sort; but this is a safer scheme. Our necks will not be in danger this time." "That's well for you, Baptiste," exclaimed El Toro, with his brutal laugh; "for your neck must be the most precious on this ship if we may judge from the value you set on it. Ha! ha! I never shall forget your white face and your starting eyes in that Dutch law court." "My neck supports a head of brains and not a pig's head like thine, with only three ideas in it--rum, grub, and tobacco," retorted the mate. "But no more nonsense; listen to me, men." Then he briefly disclosed the plan. "Bravo!" grunted El Toro. "That sounds a likely bit of business. I will go and sharpen my knife at once. And so our English milord is a game-cock, after all, like the rest of us." "He is worth fifty of you," said Baptiste. "He has the clever brains that can devise; and he is braver than you, El Toro." "I acknowledge him to be my superior, even in courage. I have not forgotten how he defied the devil himself in the _terremoto_," replied the Basque. Baptiste turned to Carew, and proceeded to speak in French. "The lads are ready to follow you anywhere, sir." "They did not seem at all surprised, and received your communication in a very matter-of-fact way," said Carew.