'That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands them who did when I was on board of her, it will not be until after the moon is down, which will not be till midnight; but should it be any other who is in authority, they may not be so prudent.' 'Holy Virgin! señor, were you ever on board of that vessel?' 'Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not with my own good will. Had I not been on board I never should have recognised her.' 'Very true, señor; then we may thank the saints that you have once been a pirate.' 'I hope that I never was that, Diego,' replied Francisco, smiling; 'but I have been a witness to dreadful proceedings on board of that vessel, at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood curdles.' To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes of horror to Diego which he had witnessed when on board of the _Avenger_; and he was still in the middle of a narrative when a musket was discharged by the farthermost sentinel. 'Hark, Diego!' Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave the signal that the boats were close at hand. In a few minutes the men all came in, announcing that the pirates were pulling up the stream in three boats, and were less than a quarter of a mile from the landing-place. 'Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all is ready,' said Francisco. 'I will wait here a little longer; but do not fire till I come to you.' Diego and the men departed, and Francisco was left on the beach alone. In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly distinguishable, and Francisco's ears were directed to catch, if possible, the voices. 'Yes,' thought he, 'you come with the intentions of murder and robbery, but you will, through me, be disappointed.' As the boats approached, he heard the voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told the pirates that they were discovered, and that in all probability they would meet with resistance; silence was, therefore, no longer of any advantage. 'Oars, my lads!--oars!' cried Hawkhurst. One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two others. The whole of them were now plainly seen by Francisco, at the distance of about one cable's length from where he stood; and the clear still night carried the sound of their voices along the water. 'Here is a creek, sir,' said Hawkhurst, 'leading up to those buildings. Would it not be better to land there, as, if they are not occupied, they will prove a protection to us if we have a hard fight for it?' 'Very true, Hawkhurst,' replied a voice, which Francisco immediately recognised to be that of Cain. 'He is alive, then,' thought Francisco, 'and his blood is not yet upon my hands.' 'Give way, my lads!' cried Hawkhurst. The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened back to the house.