"No, a point of land prevents that, but it is not far by boat,--a little over a kilometer."
"Who is in your house with the General?"
"The five soldiers who came with him this afternoon, my mother and father and a little girl the general stole from her people. I do not know her name. She weeps all the time, but makes no noise. He has told her he will kill her if she tries to run away."
"Columbus, I want to get the little girl out of that house and return her to her father and her mother. If you help me they will pay you well."
"It is impossible, Señor. I overheard the General making plans to go to Sanchez and attack the house of her father to-night, and he gave his men orders to guard the child carefully. There are to be men both inside and outside the house all the time."
"Would your father and mother help us?"
"No, Señor, they could not afford to. They would fear to go contrary to General Gonzales' orders."
"At what hour does the General start for the town?"
"Very soon, for he expects to be there by ten o'clock, Señor."
"Are there any small boats on the beach?"