tiny unsuspected harbour, heard
the roll and splash of oars sounding from the seaward of them, and were
soon afterward greeted with a hail which told them that their comrades,
as to whose safety they were beginning to feel somewhat anxious, were
returning; and a few minutes later the boats were alongside and a
general reunion had taken place.

It was too late to do anything further that night, apart from the fact
that the returned ones were pretty thoroughly tired out by the time that
they had shaken down and had their supper; but on the following morning
George, Dyer and a guard of two men were landed upon the beach and
forthwith proceeded to make the best of their way to the Cimarrone
village ruled over by the chief named Lukabela.

As it chanced, the chief was "at home" when they reached the village,
and he accorded his visitors a very cordial welcome. He was highly
amused and delighted when he learned that the English had held the city
of Nombre at their mercy for five days, but looked both puzzled and
disgusted when he learned that they had left the place as they found it,
without sacking the city, exacting a ransom, or making the Spaniards
suffer in any way; for the Cimarrones hated the Spaniards with a hatred
that was perfectly fiendish, and woe betide any Spaniard or body of
Spaniards whose evil fortune it was to fall into their hands. Death was
the least of the evils that any man, woman or child of Spanish blood had
to fear at the hands of the ferocious Cimarrones. But he brightened up
again when he learned that the young English captain had hatched a
particularly audacious scheme, in the execution of which he besought
Lukabela's assistance.

"In anything partaking of the nature of an attack upon the Spaniards,
Senor Englishman, you have only to command me, and you may rest assured
of the whole-hearted assistance of myself and every man of my tribe," he
assured George.

The latter bowed. "Well," he explained, "the matter stands thus: A year
ago, as you may have heard, certain of my countrymen, among whom was
your friend El Draque, were treacherously attacked in the harbour of San
Juan de Ulua, and several of them were killed or wounded, while a number
of others--among whom was my elder brother--were taken prisoners. Of
these last, all have been accounted for in one way or another save
seventeen who, I learn, were sent from San Juan to Nombre, and from
Nombre to Panama, where I am given to understand t