We shall beat them off, never fear.

No doubt they believe that we are their countrymen, who have broken their trading regulations, and are afraid of being overhauled.

But if there is a word spoken they will know that we are foreigners, and we shall be chased wherever we go." Then he went to the forecastle, and bade all the men in the boats cast off the hawsers and come on board.

They were, indeed, no longer of any use, as the vessel was going through the water almost as fast as they could row ahead of her.

As they gained the deck he repeated the orders he had given--that strict silence should be observed, in case the Spaniards came alongside.
Everything now depended on continuance of breeze, and those on board the boats saw that the vessel was now holding her own with them.