“Then, in that case,” said I, “I shall go aboard the schooner to-night, leaving you ashore to find out all the news you can. I shall not come ashore to-morrow night, because there appears to be no need, and the less frequently that the schooner approaches the land the less will be the danger of discovery. But the night after to-morrow, at midnight, I shall be at the spot where we landed, with all the boats, and fully prepared to capture the battery. So you must find means to meet me there. Are you quite sure that you will run no risk by remaining ashore?”
“Oh, yes, sir; I shall be all right. Never fear for me! I know the town now, and know how to take care of myself. But how will you manage, sir, supposin’ that it happens to be blowin’ strong, with the wind on the shore, when you wants to land, the night after to-morrow?”
“Does that ever happen here?” I inquired, considerably taken aback by the suggestion.
“It do sometimes, sir, but not often,” answered Hoard. “Mostly the land breeze springs up about eight o’clock, and blows until about seven in the mornin’.”
“Well,” answered I, after considering awhile, “in the case that you mention, it appears to me that our best plan will be to make boldly for the channel, the four boats keeping abreast, so as to show as little as possible; let the wind blow them past the battery, and land in the little bay about half a mile inside. I noticed a big rock, the only one, jutting out of the sand there to-day. That should be a very good spot at which to meet you.”
“Yes, sir, I know the rock well; I’ve seen it hundreds of times,” remarked Hoard. “You can’t do better, sir, unless the wind happens to be off shore. If it is, the other plan will be best.”
“Very well, then, that is understood,” said I. “And now, how will you manage about getting back to the mainland?”
“Oh,” remarked my companion, “I shall have to stay on this here island all night. But Panza will keep a look-out for me and take me across to-morrow morning.”
“Then,” said I, “you had better walk with me as far as the beach, and get the fresh stock of provisions that they will bring ashore. And how are you off for money, in case you should want any?”
“Why, the fact is that I haven’t got any, and I was goin’ to ask you to let me have some, sir; it might come handy,” was the reply.