rself the loading of it.
Then, when it is all aboard the ship, you will make the best of your way
across to this island, and wait for me at the spot where we landed last
night. I shall come ashore with all the boats and the whole of the
crew, except the idlers, fully armed. Then, if the gold has been
shipped, we will land on a little strip of sandy beach at the seaward
end of the channel, which I noticed to-day, march across the point, and
take the battery, spiking the guns. And, when this is done, we will
pull up the harbour, board the galleon, and carry her out to sea before
the soldiers are embarked."

"The very thing, sir! the very thing!" exclaimed Hoard delightedly.
"What a fool I was not to think of such a simple plan as that myself!
Yes, sir, it'll do, I don't doubt. The sojers is sure not to be put
aboard that night; they'll give 'em a day or two to rest after their
journey down the country, not for the sake of the men, sir, but because
the officers 'll want it."

"Then you think that my plan will do?" asked I.

"Yes, sir, I do; I haven't a doubt about it," was the confident answer.

"Then, in that case," said I, "I shall go aboard the schooner to-night,
leaving you ashore to find out all the news you can. I shall not come
ashore to-morrow night, because there appears to be no need, and the
less frequently that the schooner approaches the land the less will be
the danger of discovery. But the night after to-morrow, at midnight, I
shall be at the spot where we landed, with all the boats, and fully
prepared to capture the battery. So you must find means to meet me
there. Are you quite sure that you will run no risk by remaining
ashore?"

"Oh, yes, sir; I shall be all right. Never fear for me! I know the
town now, and know how to take care of myself. But how will you manage,
sir, supposin' that it happens to be blowin' strong, with the wind on
the shore, when you wants to land, the night after to-morrow?"

"Does that ever happen here?" I inquired, considerably taken aback by
the suggestion.

"It do sometimes, sir, but not often," answered Hoard. "Mostly the land
breeze springs up about eight o'clock, and blows until about seven in
the mornin'."

"Well," answered I, after considering awhile, "in the case that you
mention, it appears to me that our best plan will be to make boldly for
the channel, the four boats keeping abreast, so as to show as little as
possible; let the wind blow them past