_Scene changes_. SCENE XII.—THE FOREST. _Cocoa nut trees with monkeys_. _Enter_ CHIRUCA _and_ DRAKE _with the others_. CHIRUCA. Above a hundred mules and as many llamas loaded! tons of gold, silver, and, precious stones. You must form your own idea of their value. We wonder at your desire for such useless stuff. DRAKE. And you consider that we can intercept and take them? CHIRUCA. Of course! We are eighteen English, and thirty Symerons, and you know that one Englishman is equal to ten of them. We shall trap them like wolves or buffaloes; in fact, the Spaniards will show us their heels at the first volley from our bows; and the attendants who hate their tyrants will lead the beasts wherever we order. The ambuscade is just below us—close at hand. We can rest, and refresh ourselves here till the hour. DRAKE. This is a rich and beautiful valley, but toiling through it under a burning sun, is dry work, and then to be tantalized with these delicious fruits! _He and_ CHIRUCA _throw themselves on a bank to one side_. _The rest gather themselves into the centre_, _and are engaged talking and laughing_, _when Bang_! _Bang_! _Bang_! _Down comes a shower of cocoa nuts from a mob of monkeys_, _who thus commence petting their invaders and scamper through the branches screaming and hurling their missiles_. MOON _is knocked down_, _and scrambles up in alarm_, DRAKE _and_ CHIRUCA _laughing at the sport_. MOON (_running off_). Holloa there, messmates! Look out for squalls, what the devil’s up? A legion of Devils, I think. (_He peeps from behind a free_, _laughing with all the others_, _who have betaken themselves to shelter_.) I call that Panama hail, boys, (_laughter and cheers from all_. _The monkeys also chattering in triumph_.) Hark to the devils, how they chatter and triumph. Hand me your longbow, Oxenham, and I’ll spoil the sport of that long-tailed rascal, (_looking up_), I’ll change your grinning. DRAKE. Never mind, comrade! Let the poor things have their triumph. We shall enjoy the fruits of victory. Bear a hand with your axe, and open some of these nuts. Give us a drink of the juice. (_Moon falls to opening the nuts with a gimlet and his axe_, _whilst Indians hold Calabashes for the liquor_. _The rest having gathered melons_, _plantains_, _bananas and other juicy fruits into a heap_, _are eating and enjoying themselves_.) OXENHAM (_eating a banana_). Why Tom, you have brought your whole chest of tools. MOON (_laughing_). Yes, John, so have you; but you carry yours in your mouth.