Meanwhile the skipper had gone on, closely followed by the men, and passed out of sight. And then the few minutes became a few minutes more, neither of the lads noting the lapse of time, for everything around was so beautiful that they had no thought for the task in hand, nor fear of being interrupted by any of the enemy who might be near. Everything was so dreamy and beautiful that Poole cast his eyes around in search of some fallen trunk, with the idea that nothing could be more delightful than to sit down there in the shade and drowse the time away. Then he was awake again, for from somewhere ahead, but so far off that it sounded quite faint, there came a shout-- "Ahoy! Poole!" The lad ran, rifle in hand, to answer his father's call, but only to stop short to look round sharply, feeling that he was leaving Fitz behind. "Oh, there you are," he cried, as he caught sight of the lad following swiftly after. "I thought that you were not coming." "I was obliged to. You don't suppose that I want to be left alone here by myself?" "No, I suppose not. 'Tis a wild spot. It wouldn't be very pleasant if one of the enemy came upon you. You'd be rather safer along with us. Come on; we had better run. Mind how you come. These logs are rather slippery where the sun doesn't shine." "Yes, and you had better mind, or some of this tangled stuff that's growing up between will trip you up. Rather awkward if your gun went off." A few minutes later they came up to where the skipper was standing waiting for them. "Found the place, father?" "Yes; it's just over yonder in a clearing beyond those trees." "Where are the men?" "Inside the house." "Has Don Ramon come?" "No. There's not a soul in sight. I can't see any signs of a fight, but it looks to me as if the enemy had been destroying all they came across. I hope they didn't come upon him and take him prisoner, but it looks very bad." "What shall you do, father?" "What he told me, my boy: take possession, and hold it if the enemy come back. I have told the men to try and knock up a breastwork and close up the windows. To put it into a state of defence is not possible, but they can make it look stronger, and it will be better than the open jungle if those mongrel scoundrels do come on. Winks is there with half-a-dozen men; join them and superintend. Make them stick to it hard. I am afraid of their thinking that there is no danger, and taking it too coolly." "All right, father," said Poole, giving Fitz a glance as he stood ready for starting off. "Oh, by the way, Mr Burnett, I am sorry to have got you into this trouble. It doesn't seem the thing, does it? But I can't help myself. I daren't let you get into the hands of the enemy, for they are a shady lot. Only please mind this; you are a looker-on, and you are not to fight." "Of course not, sir," cried Fitz.