It was soon after midnight when they entered the streets and, proceeding noiselessly through them, advanced to the spot assigned to each.
One was to attack the governor's house, and to make him a prisoner; two others were to fall upon the barracks, and to do as much harm as possible; while the fourth was to proceed to the government magazines of stores and munitions, to fire these at a great many places.
This programme was carried out successfully.

The guards at the governor's house were overpowered in an instant and, as it had been surrounded, all the inmates were captured.

Those of the men who defended themselves were cut down, but Gerald and Ned had insisted that no unnecessary slaughter should take place.
The party attacking the barracks had no such instructions.

It was legitimate for them to inflict as much loss as possible upon the soldiers; and when, with terrible shouts, the negroes broke in upon them, the Spaniards, taken by surprise, offered but a feeble resistance.

Large numbers of them were cut down, before they could rally or open fire upon their enemies.