ed up the maul and walked out
of the building.

A careful look all round satisfied me that there was nobody in sight;
and as for the party up at the house, it was about time for their midday
meal, and they were probably getting it. I therefore made my way to the
spot where the hauled-up boats were lying, and deliberately smashed in
two or three of the bottom planks of each, thus rendering them quite
unserviceable for the moment. Then, returning to the capstan-house, I
gave the word to march, and the whole party, now five in number,
including Jose, filed across the wharf and down the steps into the
leading gig; the painter was cast off, and Fonseca and I taking an oar
apiece, we pushed off and, with the other three boats in tow, made our
way slowly toward the brig.

And then, suddenly, a dreadful apprehension seized me. "By Jove,
Fonseca," I exclaimed, "I have never thought of it until this moment,
but what is going to happen if there are any people left aboard the
brig? I have been quite taking it for granted that all hands came
ashore this morning, but of course I cannot be at all sure that they
did."

"I presume you did not by any chance notice, senor, precisely how many
men landed, did you?" demanded Fonseca.

"Yes," said I, "I did. And, including Dominique and Juan, they numbered
forty-two."

"Forty-two!" repeated Fonseca. "Now, just let me think." He considered
for about a minute, and then said:

"So far as I can remember, senor, forty-two should include all hands.
But, all the same, it will not be amiss to approach the ship warily, and
get aboard, if possible, noiselessly. Then, once aboard, we can soon
ascertain whether anyone is there. And if perchance there should be, it
cannot be more than one or two at most, whom we can probably overpower
if we once get a footing on deck."

A few minutes later we opened out the house clear of the wood, and I
kept my eye on it, wondering how long it would be ere we should attract
the attention of Juan and those with him. They must have seen us almost
immediately, for in less than a minute we saw half a dozen men rush out
on to the gallery that ran all round the building, and stand staring
straight at us, evidently talking excitedly together the while; then, as
with one accord, they set off racing down the path at breakneck speed
toward the wharf, shouting to us and gesticulating wildly as they ran.
But we took matters very quietly, knowing that there was not