ed for on board ship," he said. "We have to make the place
untenable for some time to come by the rascals you have so soundly
thrashed."

All hands then set to work to spike the guns, to break the trunnions,
and to gather together all the muskets and ammunition which the
fugitives had left behind them. With many a cheer the sailors, who
enjoyed the fun, then rolled the guns down the steep bank into the
river. While one party was thus engaged, the other was employed in
pulling up the posts of the stockades, and piling them in great heaps,
with the muskets on the top. The heaps were then set on fire, and the
place which a few hours before presented so formidable an appearance,
was utterly destroyed.

The order was now given to embark. Murray had been directed by the
captain to go over the ground and ascertain the number of the killed.
Twenty dead bodies were found; several more having been seen in the
forest, it was computed that twice that number had been wounded; the
larger proportion of these had, however, been assisted off by their
companions. Some of the prisoners proved to be boatmen, pressed into
the service. Twelve of these were taken to act as pilots, a hint being
given them that should they attempt to play tricks they would be
forthwith shot.

The two officers looked very crestfallen. Jack had one of them in his
boat, and Terence took charge of the other. They were not very
attractive gentlemen, and did little else than bemoan their hard fate
and smoke their cigarettes, which they assiduously employed themselves
in rolling up. Jack's prisoner, for most of the time, gave vent to his
ill-humour by abusing the commandant who had been the cause of their
misfortune. Jack knew but little of Spanish, but still he was able to
make out what was said.

"What regular daredevils you English are, nothing can stop you," cried
the officer.

"You are right, my friend; trifles don't hinder us when we have an
object in view; and as we were going up with purely pacific intentions,
merely to inquire why your colonel had carried off two of our
countrymen, it was not pleasant to find ourselves fired at by you and
your people, though you might have thought it good fun. We have made
you pay pretty dearly, however, old fellow, for your amusement."

"Yes, you have indeed," replied the Don; "but you have not recovered the
men you came to search for."

"No; but still you are not likely to regain your liberty till you f