"It is impossible, Señor. I overheard the General making plans to go to Sanchez and attack the house of her father to-night, and he gave his men orders to guard the child carefully. There are to be men both inside and outside the house all the time." "Would your father and mother help us?" "No, Señor, they could not afford to. They would fear to go contrary to General Gonzales’ orders." "At what hour does the General start for the town?" "Very soon, for he expects to be there by ten o’clock, Señor." "Are there any small boats on the beach?" "Oh, yes, and the best canoe there is my own." "Providing I get the little girl out of the house, will you go in the canoe with me to the American ship?" "No, Señor, I am afraid; but I will place paddles in my canoe and I will do what else I can to assist you. My canoe is the last one on the beach nearest the town." "Describe your house, Columbus. Where are the windows and doors?" "That reminds me, Señor--after all, I can help you. If you approach our casa from the rear you will find a little cocina[#] which opens into the middle room. My father and mother occupy the room on the right as you enter from the cocina. My room was on the left, but it is now the General’s, and the little girl is lying in there now, weeping. Long ago I loosened a board at the side near the cocina so that it will slide back, and I used it to go out when my parents believed me asleep. I will tell the child about you and the hole and she can escape that way. First I will put my paddles in the canoe, and then you can take her in it to your ship. Keep close to the shore until you are around the point, then go direct to the vessel. There are no shoals to fear. The only thing to be careful about is passing through the cocoanut grove. Avoid the hut, for soldiers are guarding a prisoner there also." [#] Cocina--Kitchen. "Another prisoner? A native?" questioned Dick. "No, he is a sailor who ran away from your ship and came here shortly after noon to-day, and he told the General about the money and the little girl. But the General had him imprisoned, for he distrusts him and he had the sailor’s pistol and ammunition seized." "Did you hear the name of the sailor, Columbus?" "Yes, Señor, his name is José. He is a dark man and very dirty, and wears peculiar blue clothes." "Joe Choiniski, or I miss my guess!" exclaimed Dick as he looked towards the lights flickering through the grove on the far side of the road. "Can you get me some meat, Columbus?" Dick asked, after a brief pause. "Has the Señor hunger?" "No, I don’t wish it for myself, but there are many dogs in the barrio, and when they discover me they will betray me to the soldiers if I come near the houses. With the meat I could quiet them."