noon
Death or victory ! '' By the time he got across the square , no foe was to be seen , and after looking round the corner to ascertain that they had not reassembled , he marched back his men in triumph . In a short time every house had been ransacked , and , with our booty and prisoners , we returned to the boats and regained the ship , not a shot having been fired nor a life lost . The commandant having agreed to pay five thousand dollars as his own ransom and that of his companions , one of the fat friars was sent on shore to collect the money , having orders to return by noon . He shook his head , and declared that this was impossible . `` It might take four or five days , perhaps a week , to collect such a sum . '' `` Very well , '' said the captain at last .