sheltered inner harbour.  Another fort defends this second passage.  East and north of Cartagena lies the mainland, which may be left out of account.  But to the west and northwest this city, so well guarded on every other side, lies directly open to the sea.  It stands back beyond a half-mile of beach, and besides this and the stout Walls which fortify it, would appear to have no other defences.  But those appearances are deceptive, and they had utterly deceived M. de Rivarol, when he devised his plan.

It remained for Captain Blood to explain the difficulties when M. de Rivarol informed him that the honour of opening the assault in the manner which he prescribed was to be accorded to the buccaneers.

Captain Blood smiled sardonic appreciation of the honour reserved for his men.  It was precisely what he would have expected.  For the buccaneers the dangers; for M. de Rivarol the honour, glory and profit of the enterprise.

“It is an honour which I must decline,” said he quite coldly.

Wolverstone grunted approval and Hagthorpe nodded.  Yberville, who as much as any of them resented the superciliousness of his noble compatriot, never wavered in loyalty to Captain Blood.  The French officers — there were six of them present — stared their haughty surprise at the buccaneer leader, whilst the Baron challengingly fired a question at him.

“How?  You decline it, ’sir?  You decline to obey orders, do you say?”

“I understood, M. le Baron, that you summoned us to deliberate upon the means to be adopted.”

“Then you understood amiss, M. le Capitaine.  You are here to receive my commands.  I have already deliberated, and I have decided.  I hope you understand.”

“Oh, I understand,” laughed Blood.  “But, I ask myself, do you?” And without giving the Baron time to set the angry question that was bubbling to his lips, he swept on:  “You have deliberated, you say, and you have decided.  But unless your decision rests upon a wish to destroy my buccaneers, you will alter it when I tell you something of which I have knowledge.  This city of Cartagena looks very vulnerable on the northern side, all open to the sea as it apparently stands.  Ask yourself, M. le Baron, how came the Spaniards who built it where it is to have been at such trouble to fortify it to the south, if from the north it is so easily assailable.”

That gave M. de Rivarol pause.

“The Spaniards,” Blood pursued, “are not quite the fools you are supposing them.  Let me tell you, messieurs, that two years ago I made a survey of Cartagena as a preliminary to raiding it.  I came hither with some friendly trading Indians, myself disguised as an Indian, and in that guise I spent a week in the city and studied carefully all its approaches.  On the side of the sea where it looks so temptingly open to assault, there is shoal water for over half a mile out — far enough out, I assure you, to ensure that no ship shall come within bombarding range of it.  It is not safe to venture nearer land than three quarters of a mile.”