I was greatly surprised, however, upon entering the harbour to see the
Spanish frigate, upon which Donna Isabel Barreto had decamped with the
gold taken front the island of Armenio, at anchor close to the shore.
What could have brought the frigate here, and kept her here for so long
a time since I had last seen her at Sumatra, I was at a loss to
understand. The unexpected appearance of this vessel seemed likely to
complicate our plans, and I determined to elucidate the mystery before
proceeding with the matter in hand.
It was late in the afternoon when we cast anchor in Porne Harbour, and
that night the same wonderful display of glow-worms showed itself among
the woods on shore. It was then also that I knew that the black bats
would be abroad, so as to make it unlikely our movements would be
observed, since the inhabitants of Porne would be shut up in their
houses.
So, when all was still, I took the smallest of the ship's boats, and
was rowed in the direction of the frigate.
CHAPTER LI
GETTING BACK OUR OWN
We took no lantern with us in the boat upon our expedition to board the
Spanish frigate, trusting to the light of the stars, and that given by
the glow-worms on shore, to guide us, and as we approached the frigate
we observed her also to be in darkness, with no sign of life on board.
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