by the enemy, we were to retreat to the boat and find
that you men had left her. It would mean that Mr Chichester and I
would be obliged to shove off without you; and that in turn would mean
that sooner or later you would inevitably fall into the hands of the
enemy. And let me tell you, men, that to fall into the hands of the
Spaniards here means being clapt into the Inquisition. And of those who
get into the Inquisition not one in a hundred ever gets out again.
Therefore, never leave your boat, under any circumstances whatsoever,
except at the express command of your officers."

It was by this time considerably past noon; the food was therefore
produced, and all hands partook of a meal, after which there was nothing
to be done until the evening; the men therefore disposed themselves in
the bottom of the boat and took such snatches of sleep as the mosquitoes
permitted, while Marshall and Dick sat in the stern-sheets and discussed
plans for the morrow.

At length, however, after an interval of waiting that soon grew terribly
wearisome, the sun went down, darkness fell, and they pushed off the
boat and got under way. There was now a young moon of about four days
old, and before she too set she afforded them light enough to make their
way across the lower bay, a distance of about three and a half miles, to
the island of Tierra Bomba, and to find the indentation to which Dick
had directed Marshall's attention earlier in the day. It proved to be a
particularly snug little cove, about half a mile long by perhaps a
quarter of a mile wide, with thickly wooded hills sloping down toward it
on either side at its upper extremity. Two small islets pretty
effectually masked its entrance; and a dry sandbank in the middle of it
occupied more than half its area, leaving a narrow channel all round it,
the water in which was only just deep enough to afford unimpeded passage
to the boat. It was stark calm inside the cove, they were, therefore,
obliged to lower the sails, strike the masts, and use the oars to reach
the head of the creek; but when they arrived there they found a steep
bank so completely overhung with trees and bushes that, when once the
boat had been forced in underneath the branches, she might remain there
for days with little or no fear of discovery.

In this exceedingly snug berth it seemed almost ridiculous to think of
keeping a watch; yet, being in the enemy's territory, they decided to do
so; Marshall underta