going ashore."

"Alone, captain?"

"Alone."

"And may I ask the captain where at this hour of the night?"

"To Gomez."

"Take a file of my men, O'Connor. The country between here and Cubitas
is full of Spaniards."

"Thank you, Morgan. I have good, true men of my own who know the country
as well as I do myself, but they would only hamper me. I must make
speed--speed, do you hear? Suarez, why do you stand there like a wooden
Indian? Get my gig into the water."

"If you are bent upon going, O'Connor, and I know how useless it is to
try to swerve you, why not take my boat. It is manned and lying at the
ladder."

"That is better, Morgan. I will send it back to you. Come on, you lazy
rascal, with that coat."

He seized his coat and rifle, and ran down the stairway to the
companionway, and along the deck to the point where Morgan's boat lazily
floated on the black water.

"Take your orders from Captain Dynamite," called Morgan to his men as
O'Connor slid down into the boat. The negro who had followed close at
his heels peered over the side and whispered pleadingly:

"Cap'n Dynamite, sah, you'se not going without George Wash Jenks?"

"To the shore, lads, and pull for your lives," said O'Connor. The boat
shot away from the steamer's side and was soon lost in the dark shadow
of the shore.

Washington shook his head deprecatingly, and returned to the
quarter-deck, where he gravely saluted the mate.

"Your servant, sah," he said. "Cap'n Dynamite he say you in command."

"Bring a lantern, Washington, quick," said Suarez. Then turning to
Morgan, he continued:

"What do you suppose the bad news can be that has so affected the chief
and which he says concerns only him?"

"Gomez's message will tell. Quick, boy, with that lantern."

As Jenks stepped into the cabin, Harry, fully dressed, came out of his
stateroom. The unusual noise on deck and the loud commands of the
captain had awakened him.

"What's up, Wash?" he asked.

"Plenty. Cap'n Dynamite get bad news in message, and bang--he scoot for
shore."

"Captain gone ashore, to-night?"

"Suah, enough."

"What's the bad news, Wash?"

"Nobody knows yet. George Wash Jenks get cap'n's lantern and then we
find out."

He took the lantern from the hook, and with Harry behind him returned to
the deck. Morgan took the light and held it so that Suarez could read
the message.

"Ah, here it is" said the mate, after he had scanned the instructions.
He read aloud: