at, eager enough to begin. They rowed
ashore, stripped themselves to the waist, and set to work with a will,
cheering one another on with boisterous jests. Captain Drake remained
aboard. Sir John Trelawny and some of the adventurers superintended
the digging. Timothy Jeffreys and Johnnie Morgan wandered off along
the stream, hoping to light upon some game for the replenishing of the
larder. Nick Johnson pointed out a spring, and others of the company
busied themselves filling the barrels with fresh water. All were
animated, and occupied in some useful way or other.

Chapter XLI.

THE TRAP.

A cheery proverb declares there is no cloud so black that it hath not a
silver lining. Conversely we may say that there is no sky so blue that
no cloud is gathering in it. The sky over the heads of Captain Drake
and his men glowed like a firelit, flawless sapphire; yet behind, where
the giant trees shut out the view of the heavens, a cloud was
gathering, charged with the very mirk of death.

For days and nights before the _Golden Boar_ had come abreast of the
mouth of the creek, the summit of the bluff had not been without a
keen-eyed sentinel. Squatted on his haunches, or lying prone on the
grass, a patient Indian had scanned sea and horizon for a sign of a
sail. His watch was duly rewarded. He heard the shout of the lookout
man; saw the ship put about for the entrance near which he lay; then he
slipped into the trees behind him, and ran down the declivity and
through the forest like a creature born to a life in the tree-packed
solitudes. He passed round the bay, and ran for another couple of
miles along the creek. Then, in a natural clearing, he came upon a
tent around which were gathered about fifty warriors of his own tribe.
At the entrance to the tent he bowed himself down to the earth, and lay
there until a voice bade him arise.

"The ship of the white men, O my father!"

"Where?"

"They come into the harbourage."

"Get thy canoe." Basil came forth, and was soon speeding down to the
bay. He got out on the side opposite to the cluster of mangroves,
climbed a tree, and watched the _Golden Boar_ as it beat into the
narrow entrance from the sea. The sun shone on the gilded monster that
stood "rampant" under the bows and lit up the tall figure of Morgan,
who stood watching the muddy waters as they ran lapping along the sides
of the ship. Basil recognized all, and smiled in triumph. He went
back to