“You know the Harbour of Port of Spain, do you not?”
“I do, senor,” replied the fisherman, “I fish in it every day.”
“Do you know the ships that are there now?”
“Senor, I do not know their names, but I know they are nearly all English.”
“Do you know the large ship that is anchored opposite the banks of the Caroni?”
“Senor, as I have said before, not its name; but I know that it belongs to a rich English merchant, and is laden with sugar for Bristol.”
“Do you know when she is to sail?”
“Senor,” answered the fisherman, “not positively, but, from her appearance, I should say she will sail in a day or two.”
The young man proceeded in this manner and examined the fisherman about all the vessels which were reported in Lorenzo’s paper to be in the harbour, but without, at the same time, receiving any more definite information.
After the questioning was ended, he requested the fisherman to be re-assured, and to fear nothing; he then pressed a spring at his feet, and one of the black boys appeared.