The attentive listener next heard the footsteps of Gray, and it must have been he, since the captain had left him alone in the standing-room. Doubtless he was going to the pilot-house, where Francisco had been sent before him, to get the steamer under way as soon as Diego gave the command. Louis drew aside the curtain and looked out; but no one was to be seen on the deck. "There is no one near the cabin now," said he as he seated himself on the divan, with his hands behind him, a position which circumstances compelled all the party to assume. "But what have you heard, Captain Belgrave?" demanded Scott. "None of us but you know any Spanish, and we are as much in the dark as ever." "Quite right; and I forgot to mention what I have heard;" and he proceeded to report the conversation to which he had listened, omitting the arguments used by Gray and the captain. "That makes the situation look a little more jolly," said Scott. "There goes the gong, and we are going ahead now. We had better hurry up our cakes, or we shall be too late to do anything, for the steamer has only five or six miles to make before the smugglers will discharge her, her occupation gone, if they only get a breeze." "Captain Velazquez is confident that the schooner will get a breeze as soon as she gets out from under the lee of the hills." "Then we had better lose no time," said Scott. "Faix, I belayve ye's can't do much wid yo'r arrums toied behoind ye's," interposed Felix, as he rose from his seat, and began to strain on his bonds. "Where are ye's now, Morris, moi darlint? Sure it was you that set us loose in the felucky out from Teneriffe." "But my hands are tied behind me as well as yours this time," replied Morris, as he made an attempt to draw his wrists through the line that secured his arms behind him. "Never mind your arms just yet," interposed Scott. "We shall have the use of them when we have business for them. Let us look over the situation a little before we try to do anything. I understand from what Captain Belgrave has told us that Diego Valequizco, the captain, and Lucio are on board of the schooner, which we are dragging very slowly after us out of the river." "Quite correct, Captain Scott," added Louis. "Don't call me captain, Louis, for you are the commander in this excursion," replied Scott, shaking his head. "But you are five times the sailor that I am, Scott, and so is Morris; and one of you ought to be captain if any one." "No! no!" protested Felix. "Captain Belgrave is the proper laygind." "But we cannot stay to haggle over such a question," added Louis very decidedly. "You have placed two of the smugglers, Scott--Gray is walking about the deck or in the pilot-house; Francisco is at the wheel, and Pedro is looking after Felipe." "Then we know where they all are, and we are ready for business," continued Scott. "What shall we do next, Captain Belgrave?" "I have a sharp knife in my vest pocket, and we will use that next," replied Louis.