“He has stolen a loaf and a bottle of wine,” she thought in her simplicity. However, Catalina did not disappoint Jack, and together they paced towards the semi-circular platform of the King’s Bastion. Jack was a very proud man as he tried to explain to his lady-love what a surprise was in store for her: he touched her wrists to show how the bracelets would fit, and her shapely neck to prove the existence of a splendid necklace, and Catalina began to believe her boy. But as they came out upon the gun platform, Jack stopped suddenly, and uttered a fearful oath. “O dios!” cried the maid, “what is there to hurt, Jacko?” “Don’t you see? Oh, Catalina, the game is up! That devil of a gunner is wiping out the bore of his gun!” Jack ran up, and, seizing the man by the arm, said: “I say, mate, if you have found a parcel in that gun, it’s mine! I put it in last night. I tell you it’s mine, mate! Don’t you try to make believe you have not seen it, ’cos I know you has.” The gunner stared in open-mouthed astonishment at the speaker. At last he said, with a touch of sarcasm: “What for do you think I am wiping out her mouth, you silly! You must have slept pretty sound not to know that them gun-boats crept up again last night.” “The devil take them! Then, where’s that gold watch of mine and them jewels? I put ’em for safety in that fool of a gun.” “Oh, then, you may depend upon it, my lad, that the watch-glass has got broke, for we fired a many rounds in the night.” “What for you look so to cry?” asked little Catalina in wonder. “Oh, come away, sweetheart. You’ll get no rich present this year; them Spaniards have collared ’em all. O Lord! O Lord!” On the 7th of July the Spaniards at Cabrita Point were seen to be signalling the approach of an enemy. As the mists melted away, the garrison could see a ship becalmed out in the bay. Fourteen gunboats from Algeciras had put out to cut her off; on this, Captain Curtis, of the _Brilliant_, ordered three barges to row alongside, and receive any dispatches she might have on board. This was done just before the leading Spanish gunboat got within range; then came a hideous storm of round and grape shot as the fourteen gunboats circled round the _Helma_. But Captain Roberts, though he had only fourteen small guns, returned their fire gallantly. The English sloop was lying becalmed about a league from the Rock, and the garrison in Gibraltar could do nothing to help her. They looked every minute to see the _Helma_ sink, but still she battled on against their 26-pounders. Then, when hope seemed desperate, a westerly breeze sprang up; the waters darkened and rippled round the _Helma_, her canvas slowly filled out, and she came away with torn sails and rigging to the shelter of the Mole.