"Yes; about a couple of dozen ugly-looking beggars, sort of mahogany-brown, come and had a look; but they didn't see us, and went back. It was just afore that first firing began." "That's right," cried Poole. "Back with you; but it won't be long before some one comes, and then you must drop down to the coast, signal the schooner, land your load, and come back; but keep two men to help you." "Ay, ay, sir." "One word; you haven't seen any of the Teals, I suppose?" "Oh yes, sir. Old Butters rowed up with the dinghy this evening." "Last evening, mate," growled the other. "Yes, that's right, messmate. He just had a word with us. Mr Burgess sent him. He wanted news, but of course we had got none, only about the shooting. The bosun said that if the skipper didn't soon come back he was afraid accidents would happen to the schooner--catch fire, or something--for old Burgess was making it so hot for everybody that he was glad to get away in the little boat." "Off with you!" said Poole, and he and his companion hurried back through the gathering mist. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. WINKS'S SALLYS. The distance back to the hacienda seemed short enough, and in anticipation of his mission proving successful, the skipper had his first boat's load told off ready for their start. "Well done! Splendid!" he said to the lads. "Off with you back. Take the command, Poole. Are you going again, Mr Burnett?" "Yes, sir; of course." Fitz turned sharply round when he was addressed, from where he was standing with the carpenter, after noting that here and there at a distance a tiny fire was burning, indicating the different posts between them and the enemy, and just before Winks had come hurriedly up to him and given him a nudge. "I arn't got them set up yet, sir," he whispered, "but I've made four. Not much to look at, but they will be all right. Two crossed sticks, bamboos, blankets, and them Spanish hats. There's two Sallys and two Guys. The Sallys has got the blankets right over the tops with the hats down close. They looks just like old women a little way off.--Going back again, sir?" "Yes," replied Fitz. "We shan't be very long this time." "All right, sir. I shall have the traps set by the time you come again. My word! I should like to be there when the Span'ls finds they are nothing but a set of paddies. I should like to hear the words they said. It would be something pretty in bad Spanish, I'll be bound." "Now, Mr Burnett," cried the skipper sharply, and somehow feeling as if he were one of the schooner's officers, the middy hurried off, helping to guide the party, consisting of Don Ramon's followers all but two, and succeeding in reaching the wharf without an adventure, the boat coming up at once on hearing their approach, and in a very short time loaded gunwale down, gliding off along the swift stream.