But in those moments no such idea entered his head, any more than it did that of Fitz or Poole. The way was open to the hacienda, and joining hands with the Spanish Don, he began to retire towards the defence he had prepared, and in a very few minutes the house had been reached, and the breastworks manned by the mingled force, consisting of Don Ramon's followers and the schooner's crew, whose shots began to tell in such a way that the enemy's advance was checked, and the bright sun rose above the distant jungle, lighting up the enemy at bay. CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. THE NON-COMBATANT. "Here, you, Mr Burnett, you are a non-combatant," said the skipper, suddenly coming upon Fitz, after going round the walls of the hacienda with Don Ramon, and seeing that they were manned to the best advantage. "Oh, yes, sir, I don't want to fight," replied the boy carelessly, and wincing rather with annoyance as he saw the Spaniard give him a peculiar look. "But you look as if you do, fingering that double-barrelled gun." "Do you wish me to give it up, sir?" "No, certainly not. Keep it for your defence. You don't know how you will be situated, and it may keep one of the enemy from attacking you. The sight of it will be enough. You, Poole, keep well in shelter. I don't want you to be running risks." "I shan't run risks, father, unless you do," replied Poole. "I shall keep close beside you all the time." "No," said the skipper sharply, "you will stop with Mr Burnett. I leave him in your charge, and--Here! Who's that? Winks, you stop with my son and Mr Burnett there. Be ready to help them if they are in trouble." "Ay, ay, sir," cried the carpenter, and he drew himself up with his rifle-butt resting on his bare toes. "There, Fitz," said Poole, grinning with delight; "you can't go back to your old tea-kettle of a gunboat and say that we didn't take care of you." "Such nonsense!" cried Fitz, flushing. "Any one would think that I was a child. I don't see anything to laugh at," and as he spoke the boy turned sharply from Poole's mirthful face to look searchingly at the carpenter, who was in the act of wiping a smile from his lips. "Oh, no, sir, I warn't a-laughing," the man said, with his eyes twinkling. "What you see's a hecho like, or what you call a reflection from Mr Poole's physiomahogany. This 'ere's a nice game, aren't it! I'm sorry for those pore chaps aboard, and our two mates in the boat. They'll be missing all the fun." "Why, Poole," cried Fitz suddenly, "I forgot all about them. I suppose they'll have gone back to the schooner." "Not they!" "Then you think the enemy's captured them?" "That I don't," replied Poole. "They'll have run the boat in, according to orders, in amongst the shade, and be lying there as snug as can be, waiting till they're wanted."