llocks again," observed Pedro mournfully.

"No; but we shall never see one another again, if we do not take care.
I have information they come here to-night."

"Holy Saint Francis! and they say there are a thousand of them."

"Not quite so many, to my knowledge," observed Jack.

"They told me that a great many were killed in their attack upon the
town, before they mastered it."

"So much the better. Go now, Pedro, drink a cup of wine, and then call
the other men."

The house was barricaded as well as circumstances would permit; the
first story was also made a fortress by loading the landing-place with
armoires and chests of drawers. The upper story, or attic, if it might
be so called, was defended in the same way, that they might retreat from
one to the other if the doors were forced.

It was eight o'clock in the evening before all was ready, and they were
still occupied with the last defence, under the superintendence of
Mesty, who showed himself an able engineer, when they heard the sound of
an approaching multitude. They looked out of one of the windows and
perceived the house surrounded by the galley-slaves, in number,
apparently, about a hundred. They were all dressed in a most fantastic
manner with whatever they could pick up: some had fire-arms, but the
most of them were supplied with only swords or knives. With them came
also their cortege of plunder: carts of various descriptions, loaded
with provisions of all sorts, and wine; women lashed down with ropes,
sails from the vessels and boats to supply them with covering in the
mountains, hay and straw and mattresses. Their plunder appeared to be
well chosen for their exigencies. To the carts were tied a variety of
cattle, intended to accompany them to their retreat. They all appeared
to be under a leader, who was issuing directions--that leader was soon
recognised by those in the house to be Don Silvio.

"Massa Easy, you show me dat man?" said Mesty, when he heard the
conversation between Easy and the Rebieras; "only let me know him."

"Do you see him there, Mesty, walking down in front of those men? he has
a musket in his hand, a jacket with silver buttons, and white trousers."

"Yes, Massa Easy, me see him well--let me look little more--dat enough."

The galley slaves appeared to be very anxious to surround the house that
no one should escape, and Don Silvio was arranging the men.

"Ned," said Jack, "let us show him that we are here. He said