“Alas, yes!”
“Then you must hold it, sir, and tire the enemy out.”
“Yes, yes; you are right. But food—water? What of them?”
“Ah! There we must see what strategy will do. There is the river not far away, and as soon as they grow thirsty, my lads will contrive that we have enough to drink.”
“To drink—ah, yes. But the food?”
“Well, perhaps they will contrive that too. Sailors are splendid fellows to forage, sir.”
“Yes. If I could only be a President of sailors!” cried the President warmly. “There seems to be nothing that the English sailor cannot do. But can they make powder-cartridges when their own is fired away?”
“Well, I don’t say that,” said the skipper; “but they know how to save them, and not fire good ammunition to waste; and that’s what you must try to teach your men. But look out yonder; while we are talking there is something going on.”
Don Ramon looked out keenly, ran into the next room to look out in another direction, and then came back.
“They are coming on again, captain,” he said. “It may be an hour yet. But they mean attack, to leave more of their force behind.”