"Well," said the skipper quietly, "first, because I am not at war, and second, because she would have sent me to the bottom if I had tried." "No, no," cried the Don enthusiastically. "You English are too clever and too brave. The captain of that gunboat is a fool. You could easily have done this thing. But you have the guns you brought all safe aboard?" "Yes." "And you have some of your brave men with you?" "Yes; more than half my crew." "Then I am saved, for you will fight upon my side, and every one of your brave Englishmen is worth a hundred of the miserable three parts Indian rabble bravos and cut-throats who follow Villarayo's flag." "Well, I didn't come here to fight, Don Ramon, and I have no right to strengthen your force," said the skipper sternly. "My duty is to land the munitions of war consigned to you; and that duty I shall do." "But your men! They are armed?" "Oh yes. Every one has his rifle and revolver, and knows how to use them." "And suppose you are attacked?" said the Don, catching him by the arm. "Well," said the skipper dryly, "we English have a habit of hitting back if we are tackled, and if anybody interferes with us in what we have to do, I dare say we shall give a pretty good account of ourselves. But at the present moment it seems to me that it's my duty to get back to my ship and wait until you show me where I can land my cargo." "Ah!" said the Don, and as he spoke Fitz had his first announcement that day was near at hand, for he began to dimly see the eager, animated countenance of the Spaniard, and to make out the figures of his well-armed followers clustering round. "Well, sir, what is to be done?" "One moment; let me think. It will be safest, perhaps, for you to return to the ship and wait." "Where?" said the skipper. "That gunboat is hanging about the coast, waiting to capture us if she can." "Yes, I know; I know. And ashore Villarayo's men are swarming. They have hunted us through the pass all night, and hundreds of them are coming along the coast to cut us off from reaching boats and escaping out to sea." "Then it's time we were off," said the skipper sharply. "Too late," replied the Don. "But my schooner?" "Will they capture that?" cried the Don. "Well no," replied the skipper. "There's not much fear, sir; my mate will look out too sharply. No. That will be safe. Don Ramon, if you will take my advice, you and your party had better break up and take to flight for the present, while I will make for any port you like to name and wait your orders, ready for when you can gather your friends together and make another attempt."