They rode down a hot street.  The moon had not risen and the place was dark except for the feeble gleam of an oil-lamp at a corner.  The clatter of the mules’ feet on the uneven stones echoed along the walls, and here and there indistinct figures looked out from shadowy doors.  For the most part, the watchers let them pass in silence, and although Kit imagined news of their departure would travel fast, he was glad they passed none of the lighted cafes and open squares.  It would be hard to see who was riding the mules, and while Galdar’s spies would probably find out this would need time and time was important.

After leaving the streets, they followed the road to the port for some distance, and then turned into a track that wound along a dark hillside among clumps of trees.  When they entered it, Adam stopped his mule and got down awkwardly.

“I’ve had about as much as I can stand for,” he remarked, breathing hard.  “Looks as if we had got a start, but I reckon the other lot will try to track us to the port when the moon gets up.”

Then with a sigh of relief he lay down in a hammock the peons had got ready, and when two of the latter took up the poles they went on again.

On the second night after leaving the presidio, Kit sat on the coaming of a small steam launch that lurched across the long undulations rolling in from the Caribbean.  It had been blowing fresh, and although the wind had dropped the swell ran high.  When the launch swung up, a vague, hazy smear rather suggested than indicated land astern; the sea ahead was dark, but in one place a faint reflection on the sky told that the moon would soon rise.  Although the beach was some distance off, a dull monotonous rumble, pierced now and then by the clank of the launch’s engines, hinted at breaking surf.  The furnace door was open and the red light touched Adam’s face as he sat, supported by a cushion, in a corner of the cockpit.  He looked very haggard and Kit thought him the worse for his journey.

“The light’s in my eyes, but there was nothing on the skyline a minute or two ago,” Kit remarked.  “It will be awkward if Mayne doesn’t get across.  You seem persuaded he’ll come.”

“I know he’d start.  We can’t tell what may have happened afterwards and there was more wind than I liked.  He’ll be here on time, if he’s been able to keep the old boat off the ground.”

“Time is getting short.  I expect the rebels have found out we’re not at the port and Galdar will have the road watched when the news gets to the town.  It might pay him to risk forcing a conflict if he could seize the convoy, and I’ll feel happier when the guns and money are off our hands.  It will be the president’s business to look after them then.”

“That’s so,” Adam agreed.  “Our part of the job’s to land the goods and it’s unlucky the tides are small.  There won’t be much water on the shoals and although we’ll have an extra few inches tomorrow, I don’t want Mayne to wait.”