In the end,
and hoping for inspiration on the spot, Captain Blood made a
reconnaissance in person. At the risk of his life, accompanied by
two friendly Indians, he crossed to the island in a canoe under cover
of dark. They concealed themselves and the canoe in the short thick
scrub with which that side of the island was densely covered, and
lay there until daybreak. Then Blood went forward alone, and with
infinite precaution, to make his survey. He went to verify a
suspicion that he had formed, and approached the fort as nearly as
he dared and a deal nearer than was safe.
On all fours he crawled to the summit of an eminence a mile or so
away, whence he found himself commanding a view of the interior
dispositions of the stronghold. By the aid of a telescope with
which he had equipped himself he was able to verify that, as he
had suspected and hoped, the fort's artillery was all mounted on
the seaward side.
Satisfied, he returned to Maracaybo, and laid before the six who
composed his council - Pitt, Hagthorpe, Yberville, Wolverstone,
Dyke, and Ogle - a proposal to storm the fort from the landward
side.
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