ximity of so dangerous a comrade.

"Save me," the man cried. "I am pursued."

"How many men are after you?" Ned asked.

The negro started in astonishment, at seeing a white face and being
questioned in Spanish. Seeing, however, that his comrades were on
good terms with his questioner, he answered at once:

"There are some twenty of them, with two dogs."

"Let us give them a sharp lesson," Ned said to the negroes standing
round. "We have made preparations, and it is time that we began to
show our teeth. If they find that they cannot come with impunity
into our woods, they will not be so anxious to pursue single men;
and will leave us alone, except they bring all the force of the
island against us."

The negroes looked doubtful as to the wisdom of taking the
initiative, so great was their fear of the Spaniards. However, the
cheerfulness with which the two English boys proposed resistance
animated them; and, with sharp whistles, they called the whole of
their comrades to the place.

Ned briefly explained their intentions.

"There is no time to be lost. We must take our places on the upper
ground of that narrow valley, and tell the man to run straight
through. We have plenty of stones piled there, and may give the
Spaniards a warmer reception than they expect. We could not have a
better opportunity; for, with such small numbers as they have, they
certainly would not be able to attack us, with any hope of success,
up so steep a hillside."

The valley which Ned indicated was not one of those which led in
the direction of their stronghold; but it was a very steep gorge,
which they had remarked as being particularly well fitted for
checking a pursuing party; and for that end had prepared piles of
stones on the upper heights. The negroes, taking with them the
sharpened poles which they used as spears, and their bows and
arrows, started, under Ned and Gerald, to the indicated spot.
Gerald had arranged to go with a party to one side of the gorge,
Ned to the other; but they decided that it was better that they
should keep together, the more to encourage the natives; and while
a few negroes were sent to one side of the gorge, the main body,
under the two English lads, kept together on the other. The
fugitive had already gone ahead, with one of the negroes to show
him the way.

Scarcely had they taken their places, at the top of the gorge; when
the baying of the hounds, which had been increasing every minute in
volume,