fter that we must plant our
outposts with those whom we can trust the most. They will warn us of
any attack, and if one is made--well, we shall be stronger than we were
this morning."

"Stronger! What do you mean? Do you see coming help?" replied Don
Ramon.

"No, sir. We must help ourselves. But our men are more confident in
their strength, while the enemy is weakened by defeat."

The hours went on and the darkness fell, with the men rested and
refreshed; every avenue by which danger could advance was carefully
commanded, and before half-an-hour of full darkness had passed one of
the vedettes formed by Winks and Poole, with Fitz to keep him company,
was alarmed by the approach of a stealthy figure, upon whom Winks
pounced like a cat upon a mouse, and dragged him towards the hacienda,
to be met directly after by the skipper, the prisoner protesting almost
in a whisper that he was a friend, but covered by the barrel of a
revolver the while.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

A CUNNING SCHEME.

"Yes," said the skipper sternly, speaking in very fair Spanish, "you may
say you are a friend, but a friend doesn't come crawling into a camp
like a serpent. It seems to me you are a spy; and do you know what is
the fate of a spy at a time like this?"

"Yes, yes, senor; a spy would be shot."

"Right--to save other people's lives. Where were you going?"

"I was coming here, senor, to the hacienda."

"So I supposed; but what for?"

The man seemed to hesitate, and tried to speak, but no words would come,
for he was either suffering from agitation, exhaustion, or utter fear,
and Fitz Burnett's hands turned wet and cold at the thought of the stern
judgment that would be passed upon the trembling wretch if he could not
prove his words.

"Do you hear what I say?" said the skipper, in a stern, fierce voice.

"Yes, yes, senor," gasped the man at last, just when the two lads had
grasped hands, each to deliver a speaking pressure to the other.

"Tell me, then. Why were you coming here?"

"Because I believed that Don Ramon was here."

"Do you know Don Ramon?"

"Yes, senor; he is an old friend."

"We can soon prove that," said the skipper. "Here, Poole, the Don is
lying down asleep, utterly worn out, but he must be awakened to see his
friend," he added meaningly.

Poole gripped Fitz's hand tightly, as if to say, Come with me; and the
two lads hurried off to where the Don was lying asleep, guarded by four
of his men, under t