"Very good, then," resumed Stukely. "Now we can go on. Though you are probably not aware of it, my chief delight is research, the investigation of, among other things, the properties and action upon the human system of the juices of herbs. Now, while we were at Barbados I spent much time in the collection of the leaves, roots, seeds, and fruits of several plants; and since then I have been diligently experimenting with them, with the result that I have evolved from one of them a liquor, one inhalation of the odour of which will plunge a man into a state of such complete insensibility that, as I believe, a limb might be removed from him without his feeling it or being any the wiser. My suggestion, therefore," continued Stukely, ignoring the expressions of wonder evoked by his statement, "is that I be permitted to go in the boat with Chichester, taking a vial of the liquor with me, and upon our arrival ashore I will enter the forts with him, subject the sleeping sentinels--I humbly trust that they may be sleeping--to the stupefying influence of the decoction, whereby they may be bound and gagged without difficulty or the raising of an alarm which would put their fellow soldiers on the alert; and then between us the guns can be spiked at our leisure. The remaining details I leave to your riper judgment and experience, gallant sirs." "But, doctor," demanded Bascomb, "are you quite sure that this elixir or essence of yours may be depended upon to produce the effect stated?" "I am," answered Stukely, with a smile, "for I have already tested it upon myself--no matter how--and the effect is everything that can possibly be desired." "Then--what say you, gentles--shall we allow the surgeon to go with Mr Chichester and further test the efficacy of his decoction upon the Spanish sentinels?" asked the master. "'Twould be folly in us if we did not avail ourselves of the virtues of Mr Stukely's most fortunate discovery," said Winter; "and I for one am in favour of acceding to his proposal." "And I, also," agreed Dick, in response to a glance from Bascomb. The two gentlemen adventurers, when appealed to for their opinion, at once agreed that the experiment was quite worth trying; and Bascomb's proposal was accordingly agreed to _nem. con_.