‘Look you,’ said the turnkey, ‘here be the words of the nobleman who hath sent these. “Tell,” quoth he, “tell the Scots mariner, that as he bore himself before the alcaide like one whose word and good faith were dear to him, that I supply him with these weapons, upon his solemn promise that he will use them only to procure himself food, and that he will not turn them against any Spaniard, excepting only strictly in the way of self-defence.”’ You may be assured that this reasonable pledge I gave with the utmost readiness, and poising my musquetoon, and trying how it fitted to my shoulder, I cried, gaily— ‘Come—come! Despatch—despatch! good master jailer; your friends will be rousing themselves from their siesta. Faith, man, were you as near the gallows as I am every moment I linger here, you would pant to hear the free rustle of the branches above you.’ All the while that the turnkey was helping me on with my new costume, I kept thinking of where I should bend my steps as soon as I got clear of Carthagena. It was very likely, I thought, that the schooner would keep hovering upon the coast, still waiting for the galleon, the sailing of which would no doubt be delayed by what had happened. I considered, moreover, that the Will-o’-the-Wisp would be most likely to ply to the eastward, so as to keep the weather-gauge of the port she was watching, and that it was quite possible that she might approach near enough the shore for me to make a signal, by kindling a fire, or by any other means which might seem available, in order to attract her notice. So I determined, as soon as I could get fairly free of the town, to turn to the eastward and to descend again upon the coast some eight or ten miles from Carthagena. ‘Now,’ quoth the turnkey, ‘you will easily perceive that I am not to be seen in this business. Your escape must appear to have been effected by yourself, and it will be the more easy, inasmuch as the lock on this door has seen much service, and is not difficult to wrench off; especially when a man is provided with such a weapon as this,’ and he handed to me a strong iron chisel, or rather short crow-bar. ‘Listen,’ he continued; ‘I will again lock you up. Let five minutes elapse, then wrench open the door; take the two first turnings to your left, the next turning to your right, the next to your left again, and you are opposite the street. A sentry stands there. If he be asleep, as is not unlikely, good and well. If he be awake and challenge, reply, “Guarda Costa,”—that is the countersign. You must then shift for yourself. Farewell, Señor Buccaneer, and if ever you meet Don José fail not to tell him I behaved honestly by you, and earned his doubloons well. You will not forget “Guarda Costa.” Adieu.’