"I can't venture in shore."
"But I can, Captain Miles. My boat's very light draft. Supposing I have a look in at San Juan? I may find out something."
"A good idea, but be careful. The Cristobal Colon's a fast boat, and if she caught you, well, you know where you'd be, at the bottom of the sea in a very few minutes."
"I shall be cautious. My scheme will be to try and lure the Spaniards out of port."
"Ha! Ha! Try, by all means, but the fish won't always bite."
"You can do something for me."
"What?"
"Spare me twenty men. That is, if you're not short-handed. I am."
"I can lend you twenty, but they won't like it at all, for they're all spoiling for a fight with this Spaniard, and they want to be here when the fun begins."
"But I must have them."