g. They
have hunted us through the pass all night, and hundreds of them are
coming along the coast to cut us off from reaching boats and escaping
out to sea."

"Then it's time we were off," said the skipper sharply.

"Too late," replied the Don.

"But my schooner?"

"Will they capture that?" cried the Don.

"Well no," replied the skipper. "There's not much fear, sir; my mate
will look out too sharply. No. That will be safe. Don Ramon, if you
will take my advice, you and your party had better break up and take to
flight for the present, while I will make for any port you like to name
and wait your orders, ready for when you can gather your friends
together and make another attempt."

"Ah, yes, Captain Reed, you mean well; but where shall I flee? This is
my last place of refuge! Here, at my own home! It is best perhaps that
you and your men should get back to your ship. I and my friends are
pretty well surrounded, and have but two ways open to us. The one is to
surrender to Villarayo's merciless cut-throats and die like dogs; the
other, to stand at bay behind the walls of my poor home, fight to the
last, and die for our wretched country like soldiers and like men.
Shake hands, captain, in your brave English way. I and my friends thank
you for all you have done, and for making, as you say you have, a little
stronghold where we can hold on to the last. It is not your fault,
neither is it mine. I could have won the day, and brought happiness and
peace to my poor land; but it was not to be. Villarayo has been too
strong. That war-vessel with its mighty gun holds us at its mercy.
Whoever has that to back him up can rule this place; for any fort that
we could raise, even with the guns you have brought, would be crumbled
into the dust. There! Farewell! You have your boat. Save yourself
and your true, brave men. Quickly, while there is time!"

"Yes, Don Ramon; that must be so," said the skipper, and Fitz Burnett's
cheeks began to burn, heated with the spirit within him, as he listened
to the speaker's words, almost in disgust, for in his excitement it
seemed as cowardly as cruel to leave these brave Spaniards to such a
fate.

But then came the change, and his heart gave a leap, and his eyes
flashed with pride. He thought no more of his own position in the Royal
Navy than he did of the complications that had placed him where he was.
The British fighting spirit that has made our nation what it is was