"Then you have an easy way before you," went on the leader, leering round at the men. "A friend of mine in Montevideo has pointed out a way in which we can all gain wealth easily. You have heard of the estancias and their owners? Yes, I see that you have. Well, are they not wealthy?"
"As rich as bankers," came the answer. "When they have paid their gauchos, and sold their cattle, they have money in hand. I should know, considering that I spent a dozen years on the pampas."
"And you also know the time when their cattle are sold. Twice a year, is it not, comrade?"
"That's correct. Twice a year, and just now is one of the times. The owners have money to chink, and many will not have banked it yet."
"That is just what my friend said. He advised us to form a band to raid these estancias, and to gather what money we could. We commence with this man called Blunt."
The English sailor pricked up his ears at that, and asked a question in very indifferent Portuguese.
"Blunt?" he said. "That's an Englishman. Who is he?"
"A great friend of my friend's," came the leering answer. "So great a friend that we are to attack him first. He is in the boat lying below us. Now, comrades, can you say why I induced our captain to haul in here above that other boat? No? Then I will explain. If we slacken the ropes we shall be carried down silently against the boat, and then——"
The ruffian touched his knife significantly.
"In an hour or two, perhaps," he said. "Our comrades will have returned from the saloons by then, and will be ready to help us. Till then we can smoke."