There was no wind. Overhead from a mirky, dark-grey sky the heavy drops were falling vertically, thudding upon the corrugated iron sheets like the beating of a hundred kettle-drums and rebounding from the puddles already formed, until as far as the eye could see--a distance of less than fifty yards--everything appeared to be a confused blurr of moisture.
"There'll be wind behind this lot," remarked Captain Blair. "Let's hope it'll blow over before Thursday."
It was his first day outside the compound. Partly owing to the desire to share the discomforts with his men and also to make himself acquainted with the harbour, he had insisted upon taking charge of the working-party told off to proceed to the beach.
Ramon Porfirio was in a hurry to complete the operations hindered by the appearance of the _Yosemite_, which were to result in the blocking-up of the southern approach channel by sinking the _Donibristle_ in about eight fathoms of water between the detached ridge and the southern arm of the cliff enclosing the harbour. It was for this purpose that buoys had been laid down in order to warp the _Donibristle_ to the position chosen for the act of scuttling.
Already the vessel's masts and derricks had been taken out of her, and the wreckage of the funnels and bridge removed. Almost everything of a portable nature likely to be of use to the pirates had been landed, until with the exception of her engines and boilers very little remained but the hull and a few fittings considered of no value for removal.
Ill-equipped for the wet weather the _Donibristle's_ company turned out and awaited the arrival of Fernando, who invariably superintended the calling of the roll. About fifty feet away and just visible through the rain were the _Kittiwake's_ crew, who for the last week or more had been engaged in excavating dug-outs and trenches on the cliff through which the approach-tunnel had been driven. Farther away and lost to view, the remnants of the _Alvarado's_ men were mustering for their daily toil.
Presently the skipper of the _Kittiwake_, seeing Captain Blair with his men, strolled over to him.
"Mornin', Blair," said Captain Davis. "Not a nice sort of morning for you to be turning out. Feelin' fit?"