And that would take a month at least going and coming." Amyas suddenly recollected Eustace's threat in the wayside inn.

Could he have betrayed their purpose?
Impossible! "Let us hold a council of war, at all events, Frank." Frank was absorbed in a very different matter.

A half-mile to the eastward of the town, two or three hundred feet up the steep mountain side, stood a large, low, white house embosomed in trees and gardens.
There was no other house of similar size near; no place for one.

And was not that the royal flag of Spain which flaunted before it?
That must be the governor's house; that must be the abode of the Rose of Torridge! And Frank stood devouring it with wild eyes, till he had persuaded himself that he could see a woman's figure walking upon the terrace in front, and that the figure was none other than hers whom he sought.
Amyas could hardly tear him away to a council of war, which was a sad, and only not a peevish one.
The three adventurers, with Brimblecombe, Yeo, and Drew, went apart upon the poop; and each looked the other in the face awhile.

For what was to be done?
The plans and hopes of months were brought to naught in an hour.
"It is impossible, you see," said Amyas, at last, "to surprise the town by land, while these ships are here; for if we land our men, we leave our ship without defence." "As impossible as to challenge Don Guzman while he is not here," said Cary.
"I wonder why the ships have not opened on us already," said Drew.
"Perhaps they respect our flag of truce," said Cary.