"There," cried Poole triumphantly; "we have been running the gauntlet of dangerous rocks all night, and we've won. That's Velova Bay. You will see the city directly, just at the mouth of the valley. Lovely place. It's the next city to San Cristobal." "Fetch my glass, Poole," said the skipper; and upon its being brought its owner took a long searching sweep of the coast as he stood by the mate's side. "I can only make out a few small vessels," he said; "nothing that we need mind. Run straight in, and we can land everything before the gunboat can get round, even if she comes, which is doubtful, after all." "Yes, knowing how we can sail." The boys were standing near, and heard all that was said, for their elders spoke freely before them. "What about choice of place for landing?" asked the mate. "Oh, we will go up as close as we can get. Ramon is sure to have a strong party there to help, and in a very short time he would be able to knock up an earthwork and utilise the guns as we get them ashore. That would keep the gunboat off if she comes round." "Yes," said the mate quietly, and he handed over the wheel to one of the men, the sea being quite open now between them and the shore a few miles away. "Well," said the skipper, "what do you make of it?" For the mate was shading his eyes and looking carefully round eastward. "Have a look yourself," was the gruff reply. The skipper raised the glass he had lowered to his side, and swept the horizon eastward; knowing full well the keenness of his subordinate's eyes, he fully expected to see some suspicious vessel in sight, but that had not taken the mate's attention, for as soon as the glass had described about the eighth of a circle the skipper lowered it again and gave an angry stamp with his foot. "Was ever such luck!" he cried. "No," replied the mate; "it is bad. But there is only one thing to be done." "Yes, only one thing. We must get out while we can, and I don't know but what we may be too late even now." For the next few minutes all was busy on board the schooner. It was 'bout ship, and fresh sail was set, their course being due east, while as soon as Fitz could get Poole to answer a question, what had so far been to him a mystery was explained. "We are in for one of those hurricanes that come on so suddenly here," said the lad, "and we are going right out to sea, to try and get under shelter of one of the isles before it breaks." "But why not stop here in harbour?" said Fitz sharply. "Because there is none. When the wind's easterly you can only expect one thing, and that is to be blown ashore." "But is there time to get under the lee of some island?" "I don't know. We are going straight into danger now, for as likely as not we shall meet the gunboat coming right across our bows to cut us off." CHAPTER TWENTY. ON TWO SIDES.