"It is not worth arguing such a point. Let us get to business. You propose to kill us?"
"Unless you surrender at once."
"Senor, you don't understand how matters stand. We are not in your power; it is you who are in ours."
"What!"
A loud cry of derision burst forth.
"You do not believe me yet. I speak the truth. You may fire and kill me, but directly you do, there will be an end of you, your sailors and the ship."
"Absurd!"
"Not so, senor. My comrade is even now in the forward magazine. You know what a quantity of powder and gun-cotton is stored there. Very well, if you fire one shot he will blow up the ship."
This startling assertion caused intense surprise. Some were inclined to attach importance to it, and to accept it as true, but the great majority entirely refused to believe the Spaniard's statement.
"Faith, Don Juan, or whativer ye call yourself," cried Dan Daly, "it's to the marines ye must tell that yarn."