d remove the shingles, or split planks of wood which
formed it, without leaving any marks which might be observed. This,
after a little time, we succeeded in doing with our knives; and thus we
formed a look-out hole on each side of the building. On one side, we
could see all over the harbour; on another, we looked down towards the
mouth; a third looked over a very uninviting country inland, with the
mountains of Cuba seen in the far distance, blue and indistinct; while,
by looking through the fourth, we discovered that we were separated from
the open sea by a piece of land little more than a mile in width. We
could not, of course, see what was going forward close under the
buildings, but we could observe the movements of people on shore at a
little distance off. Our ears, however, helped us when our eyesight
failed. One of us was always on the look-out at each hole, while the
fifth kept watch at the chink, to give timely notice of anybody's
approach to the ladder.

For some days we had observed the people busily employed in fitting,
rigging, and in shaping and altering spars. At length there was an
unusual bustle, and boats were continually going backwards and forwards
between the vessels, carrying stores of various sorts. It was clear
that there was at length an expedition on foot. We naturally fancied
that it would produce some change in our position, but whether for
better or worse remained to be seen.

The next morning the harbour was covered with boats carrying people on
board the vessels; and directly afterwards six of them got under way,
and stood out towards the sea. Whether or not Captain Ralph went with
them we could not discover. We could not perceive our own schooner in
the harbour, but there was a vessel which we thought might be her lying
out towards the mouth of the creek. There were still, we remarked, a
good number of people left on the island. We saw them moving about in
all directions for some hours after the fleet had sailed, and then they
retired into the huts and sheds which served as their homes. Such was
the state of things when we lay down to rest that night.

About midnight, we were startled by hearing the trap-door lifted. At
the same time a man appeared with a lantern in his hand. I recognised
him as the person who had conducted me to the presence of Captain Ralph.

"I have come here as a friend, my men," he said in a low voice, putting
down the lantern. "You have shown tha