ce of a shoal obstructing the fairway was clearly indicated by a
certain glassiness of surface, which was duly recorded upon the chart.

The preparation of this chart served to familiarise them with the
principal features of the harbour in a really wonderful manner, and to
fix in their memories the relative positions of them one with another.
But that was not all; for while they were at work their eyes were busy
noting various details, one of which was that a small fishing village
existed at the base of the hill upon which they were at work, and not
more than half a mile from the spot where the longboat lay concealed.
This was a discovery of some importance to them, for it at once
suggested the possibility of "borrowing" a canoe from the village, after
dark, and proceeding in her to the city; by which plan they would run
much less risk of detection than if they attempted to reach the city
with the longboat.

They completed their labours and set out to walk down the hill on their
way to the boat while the sun was still nearly an hour above the
horizon, and were safely aboard her again ere darkness fell. Then,
having partaken of a meal, Marshall and Dick stretched themselves along
in the stern-sheets of the boat, in order to snatch an hour or two of
sleep before embarking upon by far the most hazardous part of their
enterprise, namely, their excursion to the city of Cartagena.

Marshall had given instructions that he and Dick were to be called
punctually at eight o'clock; but when that hour arrived and the man who
had the watch proceeded to arouse them, it appeared that the Captain was
already awake, not having been to sleep at all, in fact; and as Dick
seemed to be fast locked in the arms of slumber, Marshall softly
whispered to the man who was about to arouse him, that he was to be
permitted to sleep on, at the same time composing himself to rest and
giving fresh instructions that both were to be called at midnight. From
which it was evident that in the interim he had modified his original
plan.

When at length midnight arrived and the pair were duly awakened Marshall
remarked with a grin which the darkness effectually concealed:

"Well, lad, hast had a good sleep?"

"Excellent," answered Dick. "I feel as fresh as a lark, and can
scarcely realise that I have only been asleep two hours."

"Two hours!" retorted Marshall, with a laugh. "Thou hast had six hours
of good, honest sleep; and 'tis midnight instead of