f punishing a lot of innocent men
and women by knocking their homes about their ears."

"I say that we ought to do as you propose, without a moment's
unnecessary delay," replied Winter. "And I, too," answered each of the
others present.

"Then it shall be done," answered Bascomb, determinedly. "My proposal,
Mr Winter, is that we make equal division of our force; one-half under
my leadership to go ashore and look for our Captain, while the other
half under you remains aboard the _Adventure_ to take care of her and
the prize. Is that agreeable to your worship?"

"Yes," answered Winter; "it is as good a plan as we are like to devise,
even though we were to cogitate for the rest of the day. It is true
that I would have preferred to lead the landing-party, since if aught
should happen to you we shall be left without a navigator."

"Nay, that you need not be," answered Bascomb, "for I will leave young
Chichester with you, and he can be your navigator; he has been an apt
pupil, and now knows as much about navigation as I do, so that
difficulty is soon overcome. Hallo! the boat ahoy!" he continued,
directing his conversation once more to the interpreter; "come aboard,
senor, will you? We shall require your services anon."

"Have I your word, most illustrious, that no evil shall befall me if I
put myself into your hands?" asked the man.

"You have," answered Bascomb. "You may trust yourself to us without
fear; indeed you are like to be a great deal more safe with us than
elsewhere during the next few hours."

"It is enough," returned the interpreter, and signed to the boatmen to
put him alongside, climbing to the deck and stepping in through the
gangway without fear when they had done so.

"Now then, Senor Pacheco," said Bascomb, when the Spaniard, peering
about him curiously, had joined the party on the poop; "I am about to
land a party and march it to the Inquisition, in order that I may
ascertain for myself whether or not our Captain is within its walls.
Whereabout is the place? Can it be seen from here?"

"Nay, most illustrious, it cannot, for it lies at the back, or northern
extremity, of the western half of the town," answered Pacheco. "It lies
in the direction of the western tower of the cathedral, but far beyond
it."

"Um-m!" commented Bascomb; "then, after all, there would not have been
much chance of reaching it with our guns. Is it a strong place? Shall
we find it very difficult to force our way