He broke off abruptly.  A moment he frowned, deep in thought; then his face was suddenly alight with inspiration.  Slowly he drooped his head, and sat there considering, weighing, chin on breast.  Then he nodded, muttering, “Yes,” and again, “Yes.”  He looked up, to face them.  “Listen,” he cried.  “You may be right.  The risks may be too heavy.  Whether or not, I have thought of a better way.  That which should have been the real attack shall be no more than a feint.  Here, then, is the plan I now propose.”

He talked swiftly and clearly, and as he talked one by one his officers’ faces became alight with eagerness.  When he had done, they cried as with one voice that he had saved them.

“That is yet to be proved in action,” said he.

Since for the last twenty-four hours all had been in readiness for departure, there was nothing now to delay them, and it was decided to move next morning.

Such was Captain Blood’s assurance of success that he immediately freed the prisoners held as hostages, and even the negro slaves, who were regarded by the others as legitimate plunder.  His only precaution against those released prisoners was to order them into the church and there lock them up, to await deliverance at the hands of those who should presently be coming into the city.

Then, all being aboard the three ships, with the treasure safely stowed in their holds and the slaves under hatches, the buccaneers weighed anchor and stood out for the bar, each vessel towing three piraguas astern.

The Admiral, beholding their stately advance in the full light of noon, their sails gleaming white in the glare of the sunlight, rubbed his long, lean hands in satisfaction, and laughed through his teeth.

“At last!” he cried.  “God delivers him into my hands!” He turned to the group of staring officers behind him.  “Sooner or later it had to be,” he said.  “Say now, gentlemen, whether I am justified of my patience.  Here end to-day the troubles caused to the subjects of the Catholic King by this infamous Don Pedro Sangre, as he once called himself to me.”

He turned to issue orders, and the fort became lively as a hive.  The guns were manned, the gunners already kindling fuses, when the buccaneer fleet, whilst still heading for Palomas, was observed to bear away to the west.  The Spaniards watched them, intrigued.

Within a mile and a half to westward of the fort, and within a half-mile of the shore — that is to say, on the very edge of the shoal water that makes Palomas unapproachable on either side by any but vessels of the shallowest draught — the four ships cast anchor well within the Spaniards’ view, but just out of range of their heaviest cannon.

Sneeringly the Admiral laughed.

“Aha!  They hesitate, these English dogs!  Por Dios, and well they may.”

“They will be waiting for night,” suggested his nephew, who stood at his elbow quivering with excitement.