There were two occupants of the boat, one at the oars and the other in the stern. Clif did not recognize them, but he did not pause on that account. Time was precious, and the boat must be gotten to shore and the balance of the party taken aboard without delay.
"Boat ahoy!" he exclaimed joyously, as he reached the side without having been seen by the occupants. "Take me aboard, men, and then pull for the shore for all you are worth."
Clif's sudden appearance and the words he spoke had a startling effect upon the oarsman by whose side Clif made his appearance.
The latter started with an oath, and as Clif seized the side of the boat and raised himself partly from the water, his gaze fell upon the glistening barrel of a revolver and back of it he saw a face distorted with rage and hate.
"Carramba!" fell upon Clif's ear. "It is an Americano! Death to the American pigs!"
The occupants of the boats were Spaniards.