That was really the way in which it was finally settled, and there is now no more dispute about it. History tells us that so have all the great national land titles of the world been argued and determined. There was what some people call a waiting spell, and all things on sea or land might be spoken of as feverishly quiet for a day or two. In the afternoon of the third day, however, there was a sort of change in the weather at one spot away out on the gulf. There was not a cloud in the sky, indeed, and the _Goshhawk_ was skimming along under full sail so steadily that part of her crew had nothing better to do than to lie around on the deck, and feel satisfied that the breeze was so very good. In the same manner, the American soldiers in the neighborhood of Fort Brown were lying around in and out of their tents, and wishing that they had more shade to protect them from the hot sun of Texas or Mexico, whichever it might be. At that hour, however, there arrived upon the _Goshhawk_ a bit of unexpected news which awakened everybody, for the man at the lookout announced, excitedly: "Schooner under Mexican flag, sir! Well away to loo'ard. Looks as if she might come pretty nigh us." "Just the thing I wanted!" shouted Captain Kemp, springing to his feet. "We'll bear away for her. Up with the British flag, too. She'd shy the Stars and Stripes. They wouldn't tell us what the news is, either." Once more, therefore, the _Goshhawk_ became an Englishman, and her chase after the latest news did not have to be a long one. Not many minutes later, the two vessels were within hailing distance, and the stranger spoke first, in a tone of evident anxiety: "What ship is that?" "_Goshhawk_, from Liverpool to Vera Cruz, with supplies for the Castle of San Juan de Ulua. What ship is that?" "Schooner _Tampico_, from Havana to Matamoras, with supplies for General Ampudia," came much more cheerfully back. "We had to run away from Matamoras in ballast to escape the gringos. Their cruisers are around like hawks. You won't get to Vera Cruz if they can help it." Captain Kemp already knew something about the reckless ways of men-of-war, but he did not say so. He merely responded: "Is that so? How about the war? We've no news at all." "War?" shouted the Mexican skipper, triumphantly. "Why, there have been three great battles already. We have whipped the Americans! General Taylor is surrounded, and will have to surrender. So will the fort on the Rio Grande. We shall drive the gringos out of Texas. I did not know until now that you British were going to help us." There could be no further conversation, for the _Goshhawk_ was sweeping on out of hearing, but Ned Crawford exclaimed, indignantly: "Our army defeated? How can that be? I don't believe it!" Everybody on deck could hear the captain when he laughingly responded: