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Amyas suddenly recollected Eustace's threat in the wayside inn。 Could he have betrayed their purpose？ Impossible！
〃Let us hold a council of war； at all events； Frank。〃
Frank was absorbed in a very different matter。 A half…mile to the eastward of the town； two or three hundred feet up the steep mountain side； stood a large； low； white house embosomed in trees and gardens。 There was no other house of similar size near； no place for one。 And was not that the royal flag of Spain which flaunted before it？ That must be the governor's house； that must be the abode of the Rose of Torridge！ And Frank stood devouring it with wild eyes； till he had persuaded himself that he could see a woman's figure walking upon the terrace in front； and that the figure was none other than hers whom he sought。 Amyas could hardly tear him away to a council of war； which was a sad； and only not a peevish one。
The three adventurers； with Brimblecombe； Yeo； and Drew； went apart upon the poop； and each looked the other in the face awhile。 For what was to be done？ The plans and hopes of months were brought to naught in an hour。
〃It is impossible； you see；〃 said Amyas； at last； 〃to surprise the town by land； while these ships are here； for if we land our men； we leave our ship without defence。〃
〃As impossible as to challenge Don Guzman while he is not here；〃 said Cary。
〃I wonder why the ships have not opened on us already；〃 said Drew。
〃Perhaps they respect our flag of truce；〃 said Cary。 〃Why not send in a boat to treat with them； and to inquire for
〃For her？〃 interrupted Frank。 〃If we show that we are aware of her existence； her name is blasted in the eyes of those jealous Spaniards。〃
〃And as for respecting our flag of truce； gentlemen；〃 said Yeo； 〃if you will take an old man's advice； trust them not。 They will keep the same faith with us as they kept with Captain Hawkins at San Juan d'Ulloa； in that accursed business which was the beginning of all the wars； when we might have taken the whole plate…fleet； with two hundred thousand pounds' worth of gold on board； and did not； but only asked license to trade like honest men。 And yet； after they had granted us license； and deceived us by fair speech into landing ourselves and our ordnance； the governor and all the fleet set upon us； five to one； and gave no quarter to any soul whom he took。 No； sir； I expect the only reason why they don't attack us is； because their crews are not on board。〃
〃They will be； soon enough； then；〃 said Amyas。 〃I can see soldiers coming down the landing…stairs。〃
And； in fact； boats full of armed men began to push off to the ships。
〃We may thank Heaven；〃 said Drew； 〃that we were not here two hours agone。 The sun will be down before they are ready for sea； and the fellows will have no stomach to go looking for us by night。〃
〃So much the worse for us。 If they will but do that； we may give them the slip； and back again to the town； and there try our luck； for I cannot find it in my heart to leave the place without having one dash at it。〃
Yeo shook his head。 〃There are plenty more towns along the coast more worth trying than this； sir： but Heaven's will be done！〃
And as they spoke； the sun plunged into the sea； and all was dark。
At last it was agreed to anchor； and wait till midnight。 If the ships of war came out； they were to try to run in past them； and； desperate as the attempt might be； attempt their original plan of landing to the westward of the town； taking it in flank； plundering the government storehouses； which they saw close to the landing… place； and then fighting their way back to their boats； and out of the roadstead。 Two hours would suffice if the armada and the galleys were but once out of the way。
Amyas went forward； called the men together； and told them the plan。 It was not very cheerfully received： but what else was there to be done！
They ran down about a mile and a half to the westward； and anchored。
The night wore on； and there was no sign of stir among the shipping； for though they could not see the vessels themselves； yet their lights （easily distinguished by their relative height from those in the town above） remained motionless； and the men fretted and fumed for weary hours at thus seeing a rich prize （for of course the town was paved with gold） within arm's reach； and yet impossible。
Let Amyas and his men have patience。 Some short five years more； and the great Armada will have come and gone； and then that avenging storm； of which they； like Oxenham； Hawkins； and Drake； are but the avant…couriers； will burst upon every Spanish port from Corunna to Cadiz； from the Canaries to Havana； and La Guayra and St。 Yago de Leon will not escape their share。 Captain Amyas Preston and Captain Sommers； the colonist of the Bermudas； or Sommers' Islands； will land； with a force tiny enough； though larger far than Leigh's； where Leigh dare not land； and taking the fort of Guayra； will find； as Leigh found； that their coming has been expected； and that the Pass of the Venta； three thousand feet above； has been fortified with huge barricadoes； abattis； and cannon； making the capital； amid its ring of mountain…walls； impregnableto all but Englishmen or Zouaves。 For up that seven thousand feet of precipice； which rises stair on stair behind the town； those fierce adventurers will climb hand over hand； through rain and fog； while men lie down； and beg their officers to kill them； for no farther can they go。 Yet farther they will go； hewing a path with their swords through woods of wild plantain； and rhododendron thickets； over （so it seems； however incredible） the very saddle of the Silla；* down upon the astonished 〃Mantuanos〃 of St。 Jago； driving all before them； and having burnt the city in default of ransom； will return triumphant by the right road； and pass along the coast； the masters of the deep。
* Humboldt says that there is a path from Caravellada to St。 Jago； between the peaks； used by smugglers。 This is probably the 〃unknowen way of the Indians；〃 which Preston used。
I know not whether any men still live who count their descent from those two valiant captains； but if such there be； let them be sure that the history of the English navy tells no more Titanic victory over nature and man than that now forgotten raid of Amyas Preston and his comrade； in the year of grace 1595。
But though a venture on the town was impossible； yet there was another venture which Frank was unwilling to let slip。 A light which now shone brightly in one of the windows of the governor's house was the lodestar to which all his thoughts were turned； and as he sat in the cabin with Amyas； Cary； and Jack； he opened his heart to them。
〃And are we； then；〃 asked he； mournfully； 〃to go without doing the very thing for which we came？〃
All were silent awhile。 At last John Brimblecombe spoke。
〃Show me the way to do it； Mr。 Frank； and I will go。〃
〃My dearest man；〃 said Amyas； 〃what would you have？ Any attempt to see her； even if she be here； would be all but certain death。〃
〃And what if it were？ What if it were； my brother Amyas？ Listen to me。 I have long ceased to shrink from Death； but till I came in