And there was an expression of furious hate on his face as he looked. Lieutenant Raymond expected no further trouble; but he took no chances. Men were stationed at the three remaining six-pounders, and the rest of the crew was armed. In silence the Uncas steamed up to within a hundred yards of her prize. And then came the signal to stop engines. It was the time for a boarding party. Clif, as junior officer, knew that that was his duty, and without a word he proceeded to get the small boat off. It was quite a task in that heavy sea, but the eager sailors worked with a will, and though nearly swamped twice, managed to get clear of the tug. And Clif was seated in the stern, heading for the big merchantman. "Keep your eyes open," he heard the lieutenant shout. "They may make trouble." And Clif nodded and the boat shot away. They wouldn't catch him napping on board that Spanish vessel--not much! But they come perilously near it all the same. It was a rough trip in that tossing rowboat. It seemed to sink and then fairly bound up on the next wave, its bow went down and its stern shot up. It did everything except turn over, while the spray fairly flew over it. But the sturdy sailors worked with a will, and the distance was not very great. In a short time the little craft shot round in the lee of the Spaniard. "A ladder there!" shouted Clif. And in a few moments the rope ladder came tumbling down. It seemed to come with bad grace though, as if it knew its owners didn't want to send it. The rowboat was backed near and Clif, with a sudden spring, caught the ladder and leaped clear of the waves. Before he went up he turned to the sailors. "Two of you follow me," he commanded. He climbed quickly up the ladder and stepped out on the deck, gazing about him eagerly. He saw about a dozen dark-faced Spaniards gathered together and glaring at him; one of them, wearing the uniform of the captain, stepped forward toward him. He was a surly, ill-looking man, with a heavy dark mustache. He bowed stiffly to the cadet. "The senor takes possession," he said, in a low voice. Clif was so busy watching this man that he did not look around the vessel. But we must do so. We must glance for one instant at the capstan, which was just behind where the jaunty young cadet was standing. There was an interesting person near the capstan. Clif did not see him; and neither did the sailors, nor even the Spaniards on the vessel. For he was crouching behind the capstan, out of sight. He was a small man, dark and swarthy. He was the same one we noticed glaring at Clif; he had recognized him, and realized in a flash that the issue between them was death--death for one or else death for the other. For Clif knew the man, and would secure him the instant he saw him; his crimes were many--treason and attempted assassination the worst. For the man was Ignacio!