"Now, men," said he, addressing his companions, "to the boat. The New York will soon be back ready to receive us." But they had not taken more than a few steps toward the shore when Clif suddenly stopped as if remembering something. "Hold on just a minute!" he exclaimed. "That shell! I have special reasons for wanting to carry that along. It will take but a minute to find it." As he started toward the ridge of earth beyond which he had thrown it, they were all startled to hear the sounds of musketry apparently near at hand. One volley was quickly followed by another. Clif sprang upon the embankment for which he had started, and looked off beyond the clump of trees in the direction from which the sounds came. He was in that position but a moment or two. A half-dozen reports in quick succession greeted his appearance--one bullet passing through his cap. He dropped on his feet to the ground beside his companions. "The Spaniards!" he exclaimed, hurriedly. "At least a hundred of them. From what I saw they were hurrying in this direction and not far away." They were on the alert on the instant. The sounds that reached their ears told them unmistakably that the force of the enemy far outnumbered their own, and were rapidly approaching. Should they await an attack or run for the boat? CHAPTER XXV. "IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY AND THE SAILORS OF THE MAINE!" "They must have followed the courier in spite of his cleverness," exclaimed Clif. "And if they have tracked him, they know we are here. The question is, shall we meet them here or take to the boat and run the risk of being shot down without a chance to defend ourselves? The danger is yours as well as mine. What do you say?" But before the men could make reply a rousing cheer from the Spanish soldiers rang out upon the air. The little band of Americans expected to see the forms of their enemies appear among the trees at every second in an impetuous charge upon them. They had no doubt that the cheers were the signal for the attack. But to their amazement the sounds of approaching steps died out. Clif's practiced ear told him that the enemy had halted; but at the same time he recognized marks of enthusiasm among the Spanish forces. What could it mean? "Do they think they can scare us off by yelling at us?" exclaimed Clif, contemptuously. "They don't know us, if they think so--that's all!" The group of Americans listened intently. There was no doubt of it, the Spaniards had halted after their vociferous cheers. Clif decided to find out what it meant. If the Spaniards were preparing a surprise for him, he intended finding it out. Cautiously he climbed upon the little rampart of earth and looked away beyond the trees where he had first seen the approach of the enemy. In the moonlight he could plainly distinguish the forms of the soldiers. There were not as many as he had at first supposed--they numbered not more than fifty.