er; there is not
a rope nor a block but I can recognise. At the distance of four miles,
with such a glass as this, I can discover every little variety in her
rigging from other craft, I will swear to her," repeated Francisco, once
more looking through the telescope.

"And if they attack, Francisco?"

"We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off. They will come
in their boats, and at night. If they were to run in the schooner by
daylight and anchor abreast of us, we should have but a poor chance.
But they little think that I am here, and that they are recognised.
They will attack this night, I rather think."

"And what do you then propose, Francisco?"

"That we should send all the females away to Don Teodoro's--it is but
five miles--and call the men together as soon as possible. We are
strong enough to beat them off if we barricade the house. They cannot
land more than from ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in
charge of the schooner; and we can muster quite as many. It may be as
well to promise our men a reward if they do their duty."

"That is all right enough; and the bullion we have here."

"Here we had better let it remain; it will take too much time to remove
it, and, besides, will weaken our force by the men who must be in charge
of it. The out-houses must be abandoned, and everything which is of
consequence taken from them. Fire them they will, in all probability.
At all events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at once."

"Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and leave the
arrangements to you, while I go and speak to Donna Isidora. Send for
the men and speak to them; promise them rewards, and act as if you were
ordering upon your own responsibility."

"I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence, sir," replied
Francisco.

"Carambo!" exclaimed the old don, as he left the room; "but it is
fortunate you are here. We might all have been murdered in our beds."

Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and told them what
he was convinced they would have to expect; and he then explained to
them his views. The rest were all summoned; and Francisco pointed out
to them the little mercy they would receive if the pirates were not
repulsed, and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if they did
their duty.

Spaniards are individually brave; and, encouraged by Francisco, they
agreed that they would defend the property to the last