Fire in the bushes." The boys threw themselves upon their faces as, from the thickets ahead, a volley of musketry was heard.
"Load again," was the order, in Spanish.

"These black rascals must be strong, indeed, to advance to attack us with so much noise." Crawling forward cautiously, Ned exclaimed, in Spanish: "Do not fire, senors.

We are two Spaniards who have been carried away from the settlements, and have for long been prisoners among the natives." A cry of surprise was heard, and then the Spaniard in command called them to advance, fearlessly.

This they did.

Fortunately they had, long before, settled upon the story that they would tell, when they arrived among the Spaniards.