break in
the rocky cliff where the land sloped down to the water.

It was only a short pull to the shore, and ten minutes later the boat
was run up on a sandy beach, and the comrades disembarked. Making the
painter fast to a large rock, the party, under the lead of Jim, set out
for the other end of the harbor.

It was slow moving through the tangled underbrush, and nearly two hours
were consumed in a roundabout trip which brought them to a point, where,
themselves unobserved, a close and distinct view of the Sea Eagle and
the lugger was obtainable.

Everyone on board the two boats was busily engaged in the task of
transferring from the lugger's hold numerous boxes, cases and casks,
which were being stored aboard the Sea Eagle.

Berwick clutched Jim's arm. "See," he gasped, "on the afterdeck! What
did I tell you?"

"Manuel," muttered Jim, with almost a shudder.

"It means trouble," grumbled Berwick.

"Nonsense," responded Jim. But there was lacking the usual tone of
assurance in his voice. He looked at his brothers and Juarez. No one
spoke. All seemed imbued with the same feeling of inexpressible nervous
concern. Was it a foreboding of some impending danger?

Very silently now the party pushed on, and a little later they were able
to get a good view of the stretch of land occupying the space between
the water's edge and the foot hills, which were a full mile away.

It was a level plain with a few large eucalyptus trees of considerable
growth clustered a short distance from the shore.

One particularly large tree of the group attracted Jim's attention, and
indicating this one, he announced:

"That is where the meeting will be held."

The others looked at him in astonishment. To them the trees all looked
alike.

"How do you know?" they chorused.

"See the birds flying about?" There were flying through the air a number
of birds. Occasionally some of them lit for an interval, but never upon
the tree Jim had pointed out.

"But what of that?" asked Tom.

"There is some one in that tree," explained Jim. "That is why, as you
will notice, the birds alight on the other trees, but never upon that
one."

Observing for a continuous period the actions of the birds their
maneuvers seemed to confirm Jim's theory.

"This then," determined Jim, "is our place of observation when it comes
to the surrendering of the Senorita and the paying of the ransom. We
cannot be seen here, but can get quickly into action and upon