"_Viva_!" shouted the skipper, with all his might; but it was a feeble sound as compared with the roar of voices which rose from the battery and beyond, while it only needed the rifle-shots of those lying in the shelters higher up the pass, and a shell dropped here and there till the full range of the field-pieces had been reached, to complete Villarayo's discomfiture for that day at least. "Now," said the skipper quietly, "we must leave the succour of the wounded to Ramon's own people. I am sick of all this. Let's get back on board the schooner." It was about an hour afterwards that Poole went to his father on the deck of the _Teal_. "Oughtn't we to have stopped a little longer," he said, "and tried to be of some help?" "I should have liked to, my boy," said the skipper sadly, "but I didn't want you and young Burnett to see what was bound to follow. The rougher portion of Don Ramon's followers have not the same ideas of mercy to a fallen enemy that belong to a European mind, and so I came away." CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. POLITICAL QUESTIONS. Happily for them, the boys saw little more of the horrors of the petty war. Aboard the schooner what met their eyes were the triumphs of peace. The next day flags were flying, bells ringing, guns firing, and the whole of the inhabitants of the town were marching in procession and shouting _Vivas_. Crowds gathered upon the shore nearest to where the schooner was moored, to shout themselves hoarse; and not content with this, they crowded into boats to row out round the little English vessel and shout themselves hoarser there, many of the boats containing women, who threw flowers which floated round. "I am getting rather tired of this," said Fitz, at last. "I suppose it's very nice to them, and they feel very grateful to your father for bringing the guns and ammunition to beat off this other President fellow; but keeping on with all this seems so babyish and silly. Why can't they say, `Thank Heaven!' and have done with it?" "Because they are what they are," said Poole, half contemptuously. "Why, they must have been spoiling their gardens to bring all these flowers. They are no use to us. I should call that boat alongside-- that big one with the flag up and all those well-dressed women on board." "No, don't!" cried Fitz excitedly. "Why, they'd come and shout more than ever, and begin singing again. What's the good of doing that?" "I'll tell you," said Poole; "and I should tell them that it would be a deal more sensible to go back and fetch us a boat-load of fruit and vegetables, and fowls and eggs." "Ah, to be sure," cried Fitz. "It would please old Andy too; but--but look there; they are more sensible than you think for." "Well done!" cried Poole, "Why, they couldn't have heard what I said." "No," said Fitz, "and if they had there wouldn't have been time. You must have telegraphed your thoughts. Why, there are two boat-loads." "Three," said Poole.