eight o'clock. The
fact is," he continued in more serious tones, "I could not sleep when I
first attempted to do so. My thoughts were busy with the task that lay
before me; and I could not see how it was to be done in the time that I
had allowed myself. The way that I looked at the matter was this: I had
arranged that we were to start from here at eight o'clock. By the time
that we had found our way round to the village where we hoped to get a
canoe, it would be nearly or quite nine; and by the time that we reached
Cartagena it would be ten o'clock, or after; there would be no work
doing, and most of the good folk would be abed; thus I should stand a
very poor chance of gaining any information worth having. The proper
time for me to be ashore, there, is during the day, when everybody is
astir, when there are plenty of people about to talk to and ask
questions of, and when they will be too busy to take particular note of
me, and wonder who I am and where I came from. So I altered my plan,
deferring our departure until now, which will afford me plenty of time
to get into the city before daylight. Then I shall have the whole day
before me, if I find that I require it, in which to look about me and
make a few discreet enquiries; and as soon after dark as it is safe to
return I will come back; reaching the boat, if all be well, in time to
go out and rejoin the _Adventure_ to-morrow night about this time. Now,
I shall want you to go with me as far as the village, to help me, if
need be, to secure a canoe; and when I have done that, and am fairly
under way, you can come back here to the boat, and wait for me; for the
work that I have to do can best be done single-handed. Now, if you have
any questions to ask, ask them; but if not, we may as well be off, for I
want to allow myself plenty of time to make my way into the town."

Dick intimated that he believed he quite understood the scheme which the
Captain had outlined, and that he had only one question to ask, namely,
how long the boat was to remain where she was in the event of Marshall
being detained in Cartagena longer than he anticipated.

"How long?" repeated Marshall. "Let me see. This will make the second
complete night that we have been absent from the ship--although it seems
very much longer. Stay here, if necessary, for four days and nights
longer, as arranged with Bascomb; and if I am not back by midnight of
the fourth night my orders are that you are to