XXV.

“Swift--to the Island!” both the friends exclaim; And as night fell their boats from cove concealed Beneath Antigua’s convent seaward came; Full soon with muffled oars that nought revealed, They lay ’neath Santa Clara’s rocky field; And Blanca in the crag disclosed a cleft, Where straight they land. But loud the sent’nel pealed The alarum gun, its post the picquet left, And flew like burghers bold to guard from midnight theft.