"We can bring a couple of guns aft, and fire over the rail." "By no means," Captain Reuben replied.

"At present they know nothing about us, and though they may guess that we are not licensed traders, with due authority to trade among the islands, I do not suppose they suspect, for a moment, that we are foreigners; but deem us a private venture, from one of their own ports.

No Spanish trader would dare to fire on their own flag and, as long as we do not reply, they will suppose that we are only trying to escape the payment of some heavy fine, or perhaps forfeiture, for breach of their regulations.
"No, they can fire away.

They are not likely to hurt us.

They are fully a mile behind us, and we shall soon leave them." But in this respect the captain was mistaken.