He motioned his followers to be silent and then took from his pocket a plaster of pitch.
Down the ladder he went like a ghost until he stood directly over Walton.
The ammunition-man started in alarm, but ere he could say a word the pitch plaster was clapped over his mouth and he was made a close prisoner.
"Now for the others," whispered Captain Roquez. "We will show the Americanos what we can do and wipe out the insult of the War of 1898!"
Slowly and cautiously the party moved forward until they came to where Oscar and Andy slept.
They had brought leather straps along, and these were clapped on the pair before they could sit up.
"What does this mean?" demanded Oscar, as soon as he could speak.
"It means that we have captured your ship and that you are our prisoners!" chuckled the Spanish captain.
CHAPTER XXVI.
PRISONERS ON THE HOLLAND XI.