"Hurrah!" exclaimed McTavish, "I have got hold of a big fellow at last. Lend a hand to haul him in, Norris." In another minute a good-sized fish was hauled on deck. "Do you call that a dolphin?" said Tom. "I thought a dolphin was a fellow with a big head and large fins, of all the colours of the rainbow." "It is undoubtedly a dolphin," answered McTavish. "If you haul it out of the shade of the bulwarks, you will see that it is of cerulean hue. There, it won't retain that colour long; it's changing already. Now it is purple, and before long, as its life ebbs, it will become black. But hurrah! I have another bite." Three other dolphins were hauled up in quick succession, and taken forward to be anatomised by the surgeon. Several spectators watched the operation. "Hallo!" cried McTavish, as he cut open one of the fish. "This fellow has swallowed something very hard;" and to the astonishment of all, he pulled out two bullets. In another were found three, and inside a third a similar number. There could be no doubt that they had swallowed the bullets which fell into the water from the midshipmen's pistols. The fact proved the rapidity with which dolphins are capable of swimming, as it could not be supposed that they had all been close to the spot where the bullets fell, nor could they have seen them till they reached the surface. As, however, many of the bullets had _ricocheted_ for a considerable distance, the fish had probably caught sight of them as they first struck the water, and darting after them, caught them as they began to sink. The brig continued her course, and having rounded Cape Saint Antonio sailed eastward for Havannah; keeping, however, at a respectful distance from the numerous low sandy islands, or keys as they are called, which lie off the northern shore of the island, and have brought many a tall ship to destruction. At length the irregular outline of the hills above the magnificent harbour of Havannah appeared in sight. A fair and fresh breeze filled the sails of the brig, and carried her rapidly towards the mouth of the harbour. Presently a lateen-rigged craft, a pilot vessel, came sweeping out from behind the high, threatening rocks, on the summit of which the massive fortifications guarding the entrance of the port were now discernible. The pilot vessel was soon close on board, but Jack waved her off, being very well able he considered to take in his small brig without assistance. The brig was now running through a channel between three or four hundred yards broad, and half a mile in length, which leads into the magnificent landlocked harbour. High on the starboard side rose the massive fortress of El Moro and on the port, that of La Ponta extending from either side of which could be seen the encircling line of fortifications which protect the city and harbour.