Some threw themselves upon the ground and slept; while others, coming up to the boys, poured torrents of invective upon them, among which they could distinguish in Spanish the words "dog" and "Spaniard," varying their abuse by violent kicks.

As, however, these were given by the naked feet, they did not seriously inconvenience the boys.
"What can they be waiting for ?" Tom said.

"Why don't they do something if they are going to do it." "I expect," Ned answered, "that they are waiting for some chief, or for the arrival of some other band, and that we are to be kept for a grand exhibition." So it proved.

Three days passed, and upon the fourth another band, smaller in numbers, joined them.

Upon the evening of that day the lads saw that their fate was about to be brought to a crisis.