"Yes. Still, as it is always as well to be on the right side, you will send into the boat the ten most resolute men of the crew, with axes, cutlasses, muskets, and pistols. Let all be in order, and ready for fighting." "I fancy those precautions will be unnecessary," said a man who had just come on deck and walked up to the spectators. "Ah! it is you, Master Tranquil," the Captain replied, as he shook hands with the old hunter; for it was he who had so unexpectedly interfered in the conversation. "What do you say?" "I say," the Canadian replied, in his calm voice, "that your precautions will probably be unnecessary." "Why so?" "Hang it! I don't know, for I am not a sailor. But look for yourself. Do you not think as I do--that something extraordinary is taking place on board the corvette?" The Captain quickly opened his telescope, and fixed it on the Mexican ship. "It is true," he said, a moment later. "Oh, oh! Can our audacious attempt have proved successful?" "All leads to the supposition," said the hunter, with his old stoicism. "By Heavens! I will ascertain." "What will you do?" "By Jupiter! Convince myself of what is taking place." "As you please." "Bear up!" the Captain ordered. The manoeuvre was executed. The sheets were let go, and the brig, catching more wind in its sails, advanced rapidly toward the corvette, on board which a strange scene was taking place at this moment, which must interest Captain Johnson in the highest degree. But, in order to make the reader thoroughly understand this scene, we must now return to El Alferez and his comrades, whom we left at their departure from the pulqueria. At the moment when the four men reached the jetty, although it was about seven in the morning, the beach was nearly deserted; only a few ships' boats were fastened up, and landing the men who were going to buy provisions. It was, therefore, an easy matter for the conspirators to, embark without attracting attention to their movements. At a signal given by Ramirez, the boat which had been pulling back and forwards during the night, came nearer land, and when the four men were seated in the stern sheets, and Ramirez had taken the tiller, the boat started for a small creek situated a little distance beyond the roadstead.