Some of the negroes were for sending messages to the slaves to rise and join them, but Ned and Gerald strongly opposed this course.

There were, as they pointed out, no means whatever in the forest for supporting a larger body of men than those gathered there.

The tree-clad hills which constituted their stronghold were some thirty miles in diameter; and the supply of fruits, of roots, and of birds were sufficient for their wants; but it would be very different, were their numbers largely increased.

Then they would be forced to make raids upon the cultivated ground beyond; and here, however strong, they would be no match for the Spaniards, whose superior arms and discipline would be certain to give them victory.
The Indians strongly supported the reasoning of the boys, and the negroes, when they fully understood the difficulties which would arise, finally acquiesced in their arguments.
Schemes were broached for making sallies from the forest, at night, and falling upon the plantations of the Spaniards.

This offered greater chances of success, but the boys foresaw that all sorts of atrocities would be sure to take place, and that no quarter would be given to Spaniards of either age or sex.