IN THE DAYS OF DRAKE

 BY

 J. S. FLETCHER, AUTHOR OF

 "WHEN CHARLES I. WAS KING, " "WHERE HIGHWAYS CROSS. "

 CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: RAND, MCNALLY & COMPANY. MDCCCXCVII. 

Copyright, 1897, by Rand, McNally & Co. 

INTRODUCTION. 

In the whole history of the English people there is no period soabsolutely heroic, so full of enthralling interest, as that in whichthe might of England made itself apparent by land and sea--the periodwhich saw good Queen Bess mistress of English hearts and Englishmen andsovereign of the great beginnings which have come to such a magnificentfruition under Victoria. That was indeed a golden time--an age of greatventure and enterprise--a period wherein men's hearts were set onpersonal valor and bravery--the day of great deeds and of courage mostmarvelous. To write down a catalogue of all the names that then wereglorious, to make a list of all the daring deeds that then weredone--this were an impossible task for the most painstaking ofstatisticians, the most conscientious of historians and chroniclers. For there were men in those days who achieved world-wide fame, such asDrake, Frobisher, Hawkins, Raleigh, Grenville, and Gilbert--but therewere also other men, the rough "sea-dogs" of that time, whose names havenever been remembered, or even recorded, and who were yet heroes of aquality not inferior to their commanders and leaders. All men of thatage whose calling led them to adventure and enterprise could scarcelyfail to find opportunity for heroism, self-denial, and sacrifice, andthus the Elizabethan Englishman of whatever station stands out to us ofthese later days as a great figure--the type and emblem of the Englandthat was to be. It is this fact that makes the Elizabethan period sofascinating and so full of romance and glamour. Whenever we call it upbefore our mind's eye it is surrounded for us with all those qualitieswhich go toward making a great picture. There is the awful feud 'twixtEngland, the modern spirit making toward progress and civilization, andSpain, the well-nigh worn-out retrogressive force that would dam theriver of human thought. There is the spectacle of the Armada, baffledand beaten, and of the English war-ships under men like Drake andFrobisher, dropping like avenging angels upon some Spanish port andworking havoc on the Spanish treasure galleons. There, too, are thefigures of men like Grenville and Raleigh, born adventurers, leaders ofmen, who knew how to die as bravely and fearlessly as they had lived. And beyond all the glory and adventure there looms in the background ofthe picture the black cruelties of Spain, practiced in the dark cornersof the earth, against which the English spirit of that day never ceasedfrom protesting with speech and sword. It was well for the world that inthat fierce contest England triumphed. Had Spain succeeded inperpetuating its hellish system, how different would life in east andwest have been! But it was God's will that not Spain but England shouldwin--and so to-day we find the English-speaking peoples of the world inGreat Britain and America, in Australia and Africa, free, enlightened, full of great purpose and noble aims, working out in very truth theirown salvation. It is when one comes to think of this, that one firstrealizes the immeasurable thanks due to the heroes, known and unknown, of the Elizabethan age. Whether they stand high on the scroll of fame orlie forgotten in some quiet graveyard or in the vast oceans which theycrossed, it was they, and they only, who laid the great foundations ofthe England and the United States of to-day. 

J. S. FLETCHER. 

IN THE DAYS OF DRAKE. 

CHAPTER I. 

OF MY HOME, FRIENDS, AND SURROUNDINGS. 

Now that I am an old man, and have some leisure, which formerly I didnot enjoy, I am often minded to write down my memories of thatsurprising and remarkable adventure of mine, which began in the year1578, and came to an end, by God's mercy, two years later. 

There are more reasons than one why I should engage in this task. EveryChristmas brings a houseful of grandchildren and young folks about me, and they, though they have heard it a dozen times already, are nevertired of hearing me re-tell the story which seems to them so wonderful. 

Then, again, I am often visited by folk who have heard of my travels, and would fain have particulars of them from my own lips; so thatofttimes I have to tell my tale, or part of it, a dozen times in theyear. Nay, upon one occasion I even told it to the King's majesty, whichwas when I went up to London on some tiresome law business. Sir RalphWood, who is my near neighbor and a Parliament man, had mentioned me tothe King, and so I had to go to Whitehall and tell my story before thecourt, which was a hard matter for a plain-spoken country gentleman, asyou may well believe. 

Now all these matters have oft prompted me to write down my story, sothat when any visitor of mine might ask me for it, I could satisfy himwithout trouble to myself, by simply putting the manuscript into hishand and bidding him read what I had there written. But until thispresent time I have never seemed to have opportunity such as I desired, for my duties as magistrate and church-warden have been neither lightnor unimportant. Now that I have resigned them to younger hands, I haveleisure time of my own, and therefore I shall now proceed to carry outthe intention which has been in my mind for many years. 

I was born at York, in the year 1558. My father, Richard Salkeldwas the youngest son of Oliver Salkeld, lord-of-the-manor ofBeechcot-on-the-Wold, and he practiced in York as an attorney. Whetherhe did well or ill in this calling I know not, for at the early age ofsix years I was left an orphan. My father being seized by a fever, mymother devoted herself to nursing him, which was a right and properthing to do; but the consequence was disastrous, for she also contractedthe disease, and they both died, leaving me alone in the world. 

However, I was not long left in this sad condition, for there presentlyappeared my uncle, Sir Thurstan Salkeld of Beechcot, who settled myfather's affairs and took me away with him. I was somewhat afraid of himat first, for he was a good twenty years older than my father, and worea grave, severe air. Moreover, he had been knighted by the Queen for hiszealous conduct in administering the law. But I presently found him tobe exceeding kind of heart, and ere many months were over I had grownfond of him, and of Beechcot. He had never married, and was not likelyto, and so to the folks round about his home he now introduced me as hisadopted son and heir. And thus things went very pleasantly for me, and, as children will, I soon forgot my early troubles. 

I think we had nothing to cause us any vexation or sorrow at Beechcotuntil Dame Barbara Stapleton and her son Jasper came to share our lot. Jasper was then a lad of my own age, and like me an orphan, and thenephew of Sir Thurstan. His mother, Sir Thurstan's sister, had marriedDevereux Stapleton, an officer in the Queen's household, and when shewas left a widow she returned to Beechcot and quartered herself and herboy on her brother. Thereafter we had trouble one way or another, forDame Barbara could not a-bear to think that I was preferred before herown boy as Sir Thurstan's heir. Nor did she scruple to tell Sir Thurstanher thoughts on the matter, on one occasion at any rate, for I heardthem talking in the great hall when they fancied themselves alone. 

"'Tis neither right nor just, " said Dame Barbara, "that you should makeone nephew your son and heir to the exclusion of the other. What! is notJasper as much your own flesh and blood as Humphrey?"

"You forget that Humphrey is a Salkeld in name as well as in blood, "said Sir Thurstan. "If the lad's father, my poor brother Richard, hadlived, he would have succeeded me as lord of Beechcot. Therefore, 'tisbut right that Dick's boy should step into his father's place. "

"To the hurt of my poor Jasper!" sighed Dame Barbara. 

"Jasper is a Stapleton, " answered Sir Thurstan. "However, sister, I willdo what is right as regards your lad. I will charge myself with the costof his education and training, and will give him a start in life, andmaybe leave him a goodly sum of money when I die. Therefore, make yourmind easy on that point. "

But I knew, though I was then but a lad, that she would never give overfretting herself at the thought that I was to be lord of all the broadacres and wide moors of Beechcot, and that Jasper would be but alandless man. And so, though she never dare flout or oppress me in anyway, for fear of Sir Thurstan's displeasure, she, without being openlyunfavorable, wasted no love on me, and no doubt often wished me out ofthe way. 

At that time Jasper and I contrived to get on very well together. Wewere but lads, and there was no feeling of rivalry between us. Indeed, Ido not think there would ever have been rivalry between us if thatfoolish woman, my Aunt Barbara, had not begun sowing the seeds ofdiscord in her son's mind. But as soon as he was old enough tounderstand her, she began talking to him of Beechcot and its glories, pointing out to him the wide park and noble trees, the broad acresfilled with golden grain, and the great moors that stretched away formiles towards the sea; and she said, no doubt, how grand a thing itwould be to be lord of so excellent an estate, and how a man might enjoyhimself in its possession. Then she told him that I was to have allthese things when Sir Thurstan died, and thereafter my cousin Jasperhated me. But he let his hate smoulder within him a good while beforehe showed it openly. One day, however, when we were out in the park withour bows, he began to talk of the matter, and after a time we got tohigh words. 

"My mother tells me, Humphrey, " said he, "that when my uncle Thurstandies all these fair lands will pass to thee. That is not right. "

"'Tis our uncle's land to do with as he pleases, " I answered. "We havenaught to do with it. If he likes to leave it to me, what hast thou tosay in the matter? 'Tis his affair; not thine, Master Jasper. Besides, Iam a Salkeld, and you are not. "

"Is not my mother a Salkeld?" he asked. 

"It counts not by the mother, " I answered. "And, moreover, my fatherwould have heired the estate had he lived. But be not down-hearted aboutit, Jasper, I will see that thou art provided for. When I am lord ofBeechcot I will make thee my steward. "

Now, that vexed him sore, and he flew into a violent rage, declaringthat he would serve no man, and me last of all; and so violent did hebecome that he was foolish to look at, and thereupon I laughed at him. At that his rage did but increase, and he presently fitted an arrow tohis bow and shot at me meaning, I doubt not, to put an end to meforever. But by good fortune his aim mischanced, and the arrow did nomore than pin me to the tree by which I stood, passing through myclothes between the arm and the body. And at that we were both sobered, and Jasper cooled his hot temper. 

"What wouldst thou have done if the arrow had passed through my heart, as it might easily have chanced to do?" I inquired of him. 

"I would have gone home and told them that I had killed thee byaccident, " he answered readily enough. "Thou wouldst have been dead, and therefore no one could have denied my tale. "

I said naught to that, but I there and then made up my mind that if everI went shooting with him again I would keep my eyes open. For I now sawthat he was not only false, but also treacherous. Indeed, I was somewhatminded to go to my uncle and tell him what had taken place between us, but I remembered that the good knight was not fond of carried tales, andtherefore I refrained. 

After that there was peace for some years, Dame Barbara having evidentlymade up her mind to take things as they were. She was mortally afraid ofoffending Sir Thurstan, for she had no jointure or portion of her own, and was totally dependent upon his charity for a sustenance. This madeher conduct herself towards me with more consideration than I shouldotherwise have received from her. Possibly she thought that it might bewell to keep in good favor with me in view of my succeeding SirThurstan at no distant period. At any rate I had no more trouble withJasper, and I overheard no more unpleasant discussions between DameBarbara and the knight. 

From our tenth year upwards Jasper and myself daily attended thevicarage, in order to be taught Greek, Latin, and other matters by theReverend Mr. Timotheus Herrick, vicar of Beechcot. He was a tall, thin, spindle-shanked gentleman, very absent-minded, but a great scholar. Itwas said of him, that if he had not married a very managing woman in theshape of Mistress Priscilla Horbury, he would never have got through theworld. He had one child, Rose, of whom you will hear somewhat in thishistory, and she was three years younger than myself. When Jasper and Iwere thirteen and Rose ten years of age, she began to learn with us, andpresently made such progress that she caught up to us, and then passedus, and so made us ashamed of ourselves. After that she was always inadvance of us, and we used to procure her help in our lessons; then shelorded it over us, as little maidens will over big lads, and we were herhumble slaves in everything. 

CHAPTER II. 

PHARAOH NANJULIAN. 

Now it chanced that one afternoon in the June of 1575 Jasper and I wereon our way from the vicarage to the manor, our lessons for that daybeing over. We had to pass through the village of Beechcot on ourhomeward journey, and it was when we were opposite the inn, then kept byGeoffrey Scales, that there occurred an incident which was to have agreater influence upon our future lives than we then imagined. In thewide space by the inn, formed by the meeting of four roads, there wasgathered together a goodly company of people, who seemed to be talkingas one man, and looking as with one eye at something in their midst. 

"What have we here?" said Jasper, as we paused. "Is it some bear-wardwith his bear, or one of those wandering Italians that go about with aguitar and a monkey?"

"I hear no music, " said I. "It seems to be something of more importancethan either bear or monkey. Let us see for ourselves. "

So we ran forward and joined the crowd, which began presently to makeway for us. Then we saw that nearly everybody in the village, savingonly the men who were at work in the fields, had run together with oneaccord in order to stare and wonder at a man, who sat on the bench justoutside the ale-house door. It was clear to me at once that he was not anative of those parts, and might possibly be a foreigner. He seemed tobe of thirty-five or forty years of age, his skin and hair were verydark, and he wore a great black beard, which looked as if it had knownneither comb nor scissors for many a long month. Also he was of greatsize and height, and on his brawny arms, which were bare from theelbows downwards, there were figures and patterns traced in blue andred, so that I at once set him down for a sailor, who had seen much lifein strange countries. As for his garments, they were much stained andworn, and his feet, which were naked, were evidently callous andhardened enough to stand even the roughest roads. 

When we first set eyes upon him the man was leaning back against thewall of the ale-house, looking defiantly at John Broad, the constable, who stood by him, and at Geoffrey Scales, the landlord, who stood behindBroad. In the rear, holding his chin with one hand, and lookingexceeding rueful of countenance, stood Peter Pipe, the drawer. All roundthem hung the crowd of men and women, lads and lasses, staringopen-mouthed at the great man with the black beard. 

"What's all this?" said I, as we pushed our way to the front. 

The sailor jumped to his feet and touched his forelock civilly enough. He looked at John Broad. 

"Marry, Master Humphrey, " answered John Broad, "you see this greatfellow here, with a beard so long as the Turks? A' cometh into ourvillage here, God knows where from, and must needs fall to breaking theheads of peaceable and honest men. "

"'Tis a lie, " said the sailor. "At least, that part of it which refersto peaceable and honest men. As to the breaking of heads, I say naught. "

"But whose head hath he broken?" asked Jasper. 

"Mine, sir, " whined Peter Pipe. "God ha' mercy!--it sings like BenjaminGood's bees when they are hiving. "

"And why did he break thy head?"

"Let him say, " said the sailor. "Aye, let him say. "

Peter Pipe shuffled his feet and looked out of his eye-corners. He wasa creature of no spirit, and always in deadly fear of something orsomebody. 

"Maybe he will clout me again, " said Peter. 

"Fear not, " said the sailor. "I would not hurt thee, thoutwo-penny-halfpenny drawer of small beer. Say on. "

"This man, then, Master Humphrey, a' cometh into our kitchen and demandsa pot of ale. So I fetched it to him and he paid me--"

"Was his money good?"

"Oh, aye, good money enough, I warrant him, " said Geoffrey Scales. 

"I said naught to the contrary, " continued Peter. "But no sooner had hedrunk than he fell to cursing me for a thief, and swore that I hadserved him with small beer, and with that he caught up the tankard andheaved it at me with such force that my jaw is well-nigh broken. "

"And didst serve him with small beer?"

"I serve him with small beer! Nay, Master Humphrey, bethink you. As if Idid not know the difference betwixt small beer and good ale!"

"That thou dost not, " said the sailor. "Young sir, listen to me. I knowthee not, and I fear thee not, and I know not why I should trouble totalk to thee. But thou seemest to be in authority. "

"'Tis Sir Thurstan's nephew, " whispered the constable. 

"What know I of Sir Thurstan? Young sir, I am a man of Cornwall, and myname it is Pharaoh Nanjulian. They know me in Marazion. I have been on aventure to the North Seas--plague take it, there is naught but ice andsnow there, with white bears twenty feet long--"

"List to him!" said someone in the crowd. 

"I will show thee the white bear's trick, an' thou doubtest me. But toproceed. Young sir, we were wrecked--sixteen good men and true wewere--off the Norroway coasts, which methinks are fashioned of iron, andwe underwent trials, yea, and hunger. After a time we came toDrontheim--"

"Where is that?"

"A sea-coast town of Norroway, young sir. And thence we took ship toScarborough. But there was no ship at Scarborough going south, whereforeI set out for mine own country on foot. And to-day, which is my first onthis journey, I came to this inn for a pint of good ale, and paid mymoney for it too, whereupon yonder scurvy knave gives me small beer, thin as water. And I, being somewhat hot and choleric of temper, threwthe measure at him, and rewarded him for his insolence. So now I will goon my way, for 'tis a brave step from here to Marazion, and I love notye north-country folk. "

"Not so fast, " quoth John Broad. "Thou must needs see Sir Thurstanbefore we let thee go. "

"What want I with Sir Thurstan?"

"Marry, naught; but he may want something with thee. We allow not thatwandering rascals shall break the peace in our village. "

"If thou talkest to me like that, Master Constable, I shall break thyhead, and in such a fashion that thou wilt never more know what peaceis. We men of Devon and Cornwall allow no man to lord it over us. "

"Thou shalt to Sir Thurstan, anyhow, " said John Broad. "We will see whatthe law says to thee. I fear me thou art a man of lawless behavior; and, moreover, there are strange characters about at this moment. "

"Dame Good had two fowls stolen last night, " said a voice in the crowd. 

"Yea, and there are two fine linen sheets stolen from the vicaragehedge, " piped another. 

"He looks a strange mortal, " said a third. 

"And wears gold rings in his ears, " cried a fourth. "A' must be aforeigner, and maybe a Papist. "

"Foreigner or Papist I am not, good folks, but a true-born Englishman, and a good hater of all Frenchmen and Spaniards. So let me go forwardpeaceably. As for the clout I gave Master Peter, here is a groat to mendit. I have but a round dozen, or I would give him two. "

With that he would have moved forward, but John Broad barred the way. 

"Not till I have taken thee before his worship, " said he. "What, am Inot constable of this parish, and duly sworn to arrest all suspiciouspersons, sturdy beggars, and what not?"

The sailor paused and drew his breath, and looked at the constable'sround figure as if in doubt what to do. 

"I am loth to hurt thee, " said he, "but if I hit thee, Master Constable, thou wilt never more drink ale nor smell beef. Know that once inPalermo there came upon me a great brown bear that had got loose fromhis ward, and I hit him fair and square between the eyes, and he fell, and when they took him up, his skull it was cracked. Is thy skull harderthan the bear's?"

At this John Broad trembled and shrank away, but continued to muttersomething about the law and its majesty. 

"You had better go with him before my uncle, " said I. "He will dealjustly with thee. He is hard upon no man, but it might fare ill withJohn Broad if Sir Thurstan knew that he had suffered you to gounapprehended. "

"Oh, if you put it in that way, " he answered, and turned again, "I willgo with you. Heaven send that the good gentleman do not detain me, for Iwould fain reach York to-night. "

So we all moved off to the manor, and as many as could find room crowdedinto the great hall where Sir Thurstan sat to deliver judgment on allnaughty and evilly-disposed persons. And presently he came and took hisseat in the justice-chair and commanded silence, and bade John Broadstate his case. Then Peter Pipe gave his testimony, and likewiseGeoffrey Scales, and then Sir Thurstan called upon the sailor to havehis say, for he made a practice of never condemning any man unheard. 

After he had heard them all, my uncle considered matters for a momentand then delivered judgment, during which everybody preserved strictsilence. 

"I find, first of all, " said he, "that Peter Pipe, the drawer, did servethis man with small beer instead of good ale. For what! I watched theman as he told his story, and he did not lie. "

"I thank your honor, " said the sailor. 

"Wherefore I recommend Geoffrey Scales to admonish Peter at hisconvenience--"

"Yea, and with a stick, your honor, " said Geoffrey. 

"So that he transgress not again. Nevertheless, the sailor did wrong tomaltreat Peter. There is law to be had, and no man should administer hisown justice. Wherefore I fine thee, sailor, and order thee to pay tengroats to the court. "

"As your honor wills, " said the man, and handed over the money. "I havenow one left to see me all the way to Marazion. But justice is justice. "

"Clear my hall, John Broad, " said my uncle. This order the constablecarried out with promptitude. But when the sailor would have gone, SirThurstan bade him stay, and presently he called him to his side and heldconverse with him. 

"Dost thou propose to walk to Marazion?" he asked. 

"With God's help, sir, " answered the man. 

"Why not try Hull? Thou mightest find a ship there for a southern port. "

"I had never thought of it, your honor. How far away may Hull be?"

"Forty miles. What means hast thou?"

"But one groat, sir. But then I have become used to hardships. "

"Try Hull: thou wilt find a ship there, I doubt not. Hold, here aretwelve shillings for thee. Humphrey, have him to the kitchen and givehim a good meal ere he starts. "

"Your honor, " said the sailor, "is a father and a brother to me. I shallnot forget. "

"Do thy duty, " said Sir Thurstan. 

So I took the man to the kitchen, and fed him, and soon he went away. 

"Young master, " said he, "if I can ever repay this kindness I will, yea, with interest. Pharaoh Nanjulian never forgets. "

With that he went away, and we saw him no more. 

CHAPTER III. 

ROSE. 

There being no disposition on my part to renew our differences, and noneon his to lead up to an open rupture, my cousin Jasper Stapleton and Igot on together very well, until we had reached the age of nineteenyears, when a new and far more important matter of contention arosebetween us. 

Now, our first quarrel had arisen over the ultimate disposition of myuncle's estates; our second was as to which should be lord over theheart and hand of a fair maiden. To both of us the second quarrel wasfar more serious than the first--which is a thing that will readily beunderstood by all young folks. It seemed to both of us that not all thebroad acres of Beechcot, nay, of Yorkshire itself, were to be reckonedin comparison with the little hand of Mistress Rose Herrick. 

For by that time Mistress Rose had grown to be a fair and graciousmaiden, whose golden hair, floating from under her dainty cap, was adangerous snare for any hot-hearted lad's thoughts to fall entangled in. So sweet and gracious was she, so delightful her conversation, sobewitching her eyes, that I marvel not even at this stretch of time thatI then became her captive and slave for life. Nor do I marvel, either, that Jasper Stapleton was equally enslaved by her charms. It had indeedbeen wonderful if he or I had made any resistance to them. 

As to myself, the little blind god pierced my heart with his arrow at avery early stage. Indeed, I do not remember any period of my life when Idid not love Rose Herrick more dearly than anything else in God's fairworld. To me she was all that is sweet and desirable, a companion whosecompany must needs make the path of life a primrose path; and, therefore, even when I was a lad, I looked forward to the time when Imight take her hand in mine, and enter with her upon the highway whichall of us must travel. 

However, when I was come to nineteen years of age, being then a tall andstrapping lad, and somewhat grave withal, it came to my mind that Ishould find out for myself what feelings Rose had with regard to me, andtherefore I began to seek her company, and to engage her in moreconstant conversation than we had hitherto enjoyed. And the effect ofthis was that my love for her, which had until then been of a placidnature, now became restless and unsatisfied, and longed to know whetherit was to be answered with love or finally dismissed. 

Thus I became somewhat moody and taciturn, and took to wandering aboutthe land by myself, by day or night, so that Sir Thurstan more thanonce asked me if I had turned poet or fallen in love. Now, both thesethings were true, for because I had fallen in love I had also turnedpoet; as, I suppose, every lover must. In sooth, I had scribbled linesand couplets, and here and there a song, to my sweet mistress, though Ihad never as yet mustered sufficient courage to show her what I hadwritten. That, I think, is the way with all lovers who make rhymes. There is a satisfaction to them in the mere writing of them; and I doubtnot that they often read over their verses, and in the reading find acertain keen and peculiar sort of pleasure which is not altogetherunmixed with pain. 

Now it chanced that one day in the early spring of 1578 I had beenwandering about the park of Beechcot, thinking of my passion and itsobject, and my thoughts as usual had clothed themselves in verses. Wherefore, when I again reached the house, I went into the library andwrote down my rhymes on paper, in order that I might put them away withmy other compositions. I will write them down here from the copy I thenmade. It lies before me now, a yellow, time-stained sheet, and somehowit brings back to me the long-dead days of happiness which came beforemy wonderful adventure. 

 TO ROSE. 

 When I first beheld thee, dear, Day across the land was breaking, April skies were fine and clear And the world to life was waking; All was fair In earth and air: Spring lay lurking in the sedges: Suddenly I looked on thee And straight forgot the budding hedges. 

 When I first beheld thee, sweet, Madcap Love came gayly flying Where the woods and meadows meet: Then I straightway fell a-sighing. Fair, I said, Are hills and glade And sweet the light with which they're laden, But ah, to me, Nor flower nor tree Are half so sweet as yonder maiden. 

 Thus when I beheld thee, love, Vanished quick my first devotion, Earth below and heaven above And the mystic, magic ocean Seemed to me No more to be. I had eyes for naught but thee, dear, With his dart Love pierced my heart And thou wert all in all to me, dear!

Now, as I came to an end of writing these verses I was suddenly aware ofsomeone standing at my side, and when I looked up, with anger andresentment that anyone should spy upon my actions, I saw my cousinJasper at my elbow, staring at the two words, "To Rose, " which headedmy composition. I sprang to my feet and faced him. 

"That is like you, cousin, " said I, striving to master my anger, "to actthe spy upon a man. "

"As you please, " he answered. "I care what no man thinks of my actions. But there, " pointing to the paper, "is proof of what I have longsuspected. Humphrey, you are in love with Mistress Rose Herrick!"

"What if I am?" said I. 

"Nothing, but that I also am in love with her, and mean to win her, " hereplied. 

After that there was silence. 

"We cannot both have her, " said I at last. 

"True, " said he. "She shall be mine. "

"Not if I can prevent it, cousin. At any rate she has the principal sayin this matter. "

"Thou hast not spoken to her, Humphrey?"

"What is that to thee, cousin? But I have not. "

"Humphrey, thou wilt heir our uncle's lands. Thou hast robbed me of myshare in them. I will not be robbed of my love. Pish! do not stay me. Thou art hot-tempered and boyish, but I am cold as an icicle. It is menlike me whose love is deep and determined, and therefore I swear thoushalt not come between me and Rose Herrick. "

I watched him closely, and saw that he valued nothing of land or moneyas he valued his passion, and that he would stay at nothing in order togain his own ends. But I was equally firm. 

"What do you propose, Jasper?" I asked. "It is for Mistress Rose Herrickto decide. We cannot both address her at the same time. "

"True, " he said; "true. I agree that you have the same right to speak toher that I have. Let us draw lots. The successful one shall have thefirst chance. Do you agree?"

I agreed willingly, because I felt certain that even if Jasper beat mehe would have no chance with Rose. There was something in my heart thattold me she would look on me, and on me only, with favor. 

We went out into the stackyard, and agreed that each of us should draw astraw from a wheat-stack. He that drew the longest straw should have thefirst right of speaking. Then we put our hands to the stack and drew ourstraws. I beat him there--my straw was a good foot longer than his. 

"You have beaten me again, " he said. "Is it always to be so? But I willwait, cousin Humphrey. "

And so he turned away and left me. 

Now, seeing how matters stood, it came to my mind that I had best put myfortune to the test as quickly as possible, and therefore I made hasteover to the vicarage in order to find Rose and ask her to make meeither happy or miserable. And as good luck would have it, I found heralone in the vicarage garden, looking so sweet and gracious that I wassuddenly struck dumb, and in my confusion could think of naught but thatmy face was red, my attire negligent, and my whole appearance not at alllike that of a lover. 

"Humphrey, " said Rose, laughing at me, "you look as you used to look inthe days when you came late to your lessons, from robbing an orchard orchasing Farmer Good's cattle, or following the hounds. Are you a boyagain?"

But there she stopped, for I think she saw something in my eyes thatastonished her. And after that I know not what we said or did, save thatpresently we understood one another, and for the space of an hourentirely forgot that there were other people in the world, or, indeed, that there was any world at all. 

So that evening I went home happy. And as I marched up to the manor, whistling and singing, I met my cousin. He looked at me for a moment, and then turned on his heel. 

"I see how it is, " he said. "You have no need to speak. "

"Congratulate me, at any rate, cousin, " I cried. 

"Time enough for that, " said he. 

And from that moment he hated me, and waited his opportunity to do me amischief. 

CHAPTER IV. 

FOUL PLAY. 

When a man has conceived a deadly hatred of one of his fellow-men, andhas further resolved to let slip no chance of satisfying it, his revengebecomes to him simply a question of time, for the chance is sure to comesooner or later. 

It was this conviction, I think, that kept my cousin Jasper Stapletonquiet during the next few months. He knew that in due course his revengewould have an opportunity of glutting itself, and for that evil time hewas well content to wait. You may wonder that so young a man should havepossessed such cruel feelings toward one who had never done him anywillful wrong. But as events proved Jasper was of an exceeding crueland malignant nature, and his wickedness was all the worse because itwas of a cold and calculating sort. If a man gave him an honeststraightforward blow or buffet, it was not Jasper's way to strike backthere and then, face to face, but rather to wait until some evil chancepresented itself--and then, his adversary's back being turned, Jasperwould plant a dagger between his shoulders. In other words, he bided histime, and when he did strike, struck at an unguarded place. 

Now at that time I had very little idea that Jasper entertained suchhard thoughts of me--my knowledge of his cruelty only came by laterexperience. All that spring and summer of 1578 I was living in a veryparadise, and cared not for Jasper or Dame Barbara or anybody else. Myuncle had sanctioned the betrothal of Rose Herrick and myself, and thegood vicar had given us his blessing in choice Latin. There had beensome little scolding of us from both manor-house and vicarage, for SirThurstan and Master Timotheus both thought us too young to talk of loveand marriage; but in the end our pleadings prevailed, and it wasarranged that we were to consider ourselves plighted lovers, and thatour wedding was to take place in two years. This settled, there wasnaught but happiness for me and Rose. I think we spent most of thatsummer out of doors, wandering about the Chase, and talking as loverswill, of all the days to come. Never once did there come a cloud overthe fair heaven of our hopes, unless it was once, when in a remotecorner of the woods, we suddenly came face to face with JasperStapleton. He had been out with his bow, and when we met him he wasadvancing along the path, with a young deer slung over his shoulders. Atthe sound of our footsteps on the crackling underwood, he stopped, looked up, and, recognizing us, turned hastily away and vanished in thethick bushes. 

"Why did Jasper go away so suddenly?" asked Rose. 

"Because he was not minded to meet us, " said I. 

"But why? And I have not seen him these many weeks--he seems to avoidme. Did you mark his face, Humphrey, --how white it turned when he seteyes on us? And there was a look on it that frightened me--a look thatseemed to promise no love for you, Humphrey, " she said. 

"Have no fear, sweetheart, " I answered. "Jasper is a strange fellow, but he will do me no harm. He is only disappointed because I have wona flower that he would fain have possessed himself. "

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

"I mean, sweetheart, that Jasper was much in love with Mistress RoseHerrick, and liked not that Humphrey Salkeld should win her. There--perhaps I have done wrong to tell thee this; but, indeed, I likenot mysteries. "

But so strange are women, that Rose immediately fell to sighing andlamenting on Jasper's woes. "It is sad, " she said, "that any man shouldsorrow over a maiden's pretty face, when there are so many girls in theworld. " This train of thought, however, suddenly slipped from her whenshe remembered Master Jasper's ugly looks. 

"He will do you a mischief, Humphrey, " she said. "I saw it in his eyes. He hates you. They say that jealousy breeds murder--oh! what if Jaspershould try to kill you?"

I laughed at the notion. I was so cock-a-whoop at that time, so elatedwith my love and my fair prospects, that I did not believe anythingcould harm me, and said so. Nevertheless, I believe Rose was from thattime much concerned as to the relations between me and Jasper, havingsome woman-born notion that all might not go so well as I, in my boyishconfidence, anticipated. But when she set forth her fears from time totime, I only laughed at her, never thinking that my cousin's opportunitywas already close at hand. 

Early in the month of October in that year Sir Thurstan called Jasperand myself into the library one morning, and informed us that he hadbusiness for us at the port of Scarborough. There was, he said, a shipcoming over from Hamburg, the master of which had been entrusted with acertain commission from him, and as the vessel was now due, he wished usto go over to Scarborough and complete the matter, by receiving certaingoods and paying the master his money. Neither Jasper nor I weredispleased at the notion of this trip, for we were both minded to see alittle of the world. True, I did not like the idea of being separatedfrom my sweetheart for several days; but then, as she said, there wouldbe the delight of looking forward to our meeting again. Alas! neither ofus knew that that meeting was not to take place for three long andweary years. 

We set out from Beechcot, Jasper and I, one Monday morning, having withus money wherewith to pay the charges of the ship-master. From themanor-house to Scarborough there was a distance of twenty odd miles, andtherefore we rode our horses. Sir Thurstan had given us instructions toput up at the Mermaid Tavern, near the harbor, and there we accordinglystabled our beasts and made arrangements for our own accommodation. Theship which we were expecting had not yet arrived, and was not likely tocome in before the next day, so that we had naught to do but look aboutus and derive what amusement we could from the sights of the littlefishing town. Small as the place was, it being then little more than agreat cluster of houses nestling under the shadow of the high rock onwhich stands Scarborough Castle, it was still a place of importance tous, who had never for many years seen any town or village bigger thanour own hamlet of Beechcot, where there were no more than a dozenfarmsteads and cottages all told. Also the sailors, who hung about theharbor or on the quay-side, or who sat in their boats mending their netsand spinning their yarns one to another, were sources of much interest, so that we felt two or three days of life in their company would not bedull nor misspent. Moreover, the merchant, whose ship it was thatcarried Sir Thurstan's goods, showed us much attention, and would haveus to his house to talk with him and tell him of our uncle, whoseacquaintance he had made many years previously, but had not been able tocultivate. 

There is, near the harbor of Scarborough, lying half-hid amongst thenarrow streets which run up towards the Castle Hill, a quaint andcurious inn known as the Three Jolly Mariners. At its door standsa figure carved in wood, which at some time, no doubt, acted asfigurehead to a ship, but whether it represents Venus or Diana, Hebe orMinerva, I do not know. Inside, the house more resembles the cabin of avessel than the parlor of a tavern. On the walls are many curious thingsbrought by mariners from foreign parts, together with relics of shipsthat had made many voyages from the harbor outside, and had finally comehome to be broken up. In this place, half-parlor, half-cabin, thereassembled men of seafaring life: salts, young and old, English, Scotch, Norwegians, and Danes, with now and then a Frenchman or Spaniard, sothat there is never any lack of interesting and ofttimes marvelousdiscourse. 

Our ship not having come in on the Tuesday night, Jasper and I, incompany with the merchant aforesaid, entered the Three Jolly Mariners, and having saluted the assembled company, sat down to wait awhile, theharbor-master thinking it likely that our vessel would shortly besignaled. There were several men in the inn, drinking and talking, andall were of interest in my eyes, but one of them much more so than theothers. He was a stoutly-built, tall man of middle age, dressed in whatseemed to my eyes a very fantastic style, there being more color in hisdress than was then usual. He had a high, white forehead, over which hisjet-black hair was closely cropped, his eyes were set rather too neartogether to be pleasant, his nose was long, his teeth very white andlarge, and his beard, almost as black as his hair, was trimmed to apoint. As he sat and listened to the conversation around him he neverlaughed, but occasionally he smiled, exposing his cruel teeth, andreminding me of a dog that shows its fangs threateningly. 

Our friend the merchant whispered to us that this gentleman was acertain Captain Manuel Nunez, who came trading to Scarborough fromSeville. He further informed us that his ship now lay outside in theharbor, and was a fine vessel, of very graceful proportions, and muchmore beautiful to look at than our English ships, which are somewhatsquat and ugly, though not difficult to handle. 

"And although he is a Spaniard, " continued our friend, "this Senor Nunezis well liked here, for he makes himself courtly and agreeable to thosewho have to do with him, so that our recent relations with his countryhave not prevented him from coming amongst us. "

However, there was something about the man which almost made me afraid. He reminded me of a viper which I once killed in Beechcot Woods. Andthough we entered into conversation with him that night, and found him amightily agreeable companion, I still preserved the notion that he was aman not to be trusted, and like to prove cruel and treacherous. 

The following day, going down to the harbor-wall to see if there wereany signs of our ship, I saw my cousin engaged in close conversationwith Senor Nunez. I did not intrude myself upon them, but presently theSpaniard, catching sight of me, came to my side, and with a courteoussalutation addressed me. 

"I have been inviting your good cousin, Master Stapleton, to go aboardmy vessel yonder, " said he, "and I would tender the same courtesy toyourself, Master Salkeld. It is not often that an English countrygentleman has a chance of seeing a Spanish ship in these sad days, unless, alack! it be in this deplorable warfare; and, therefore, Ithought you might both be glad of this opportunity. "

"What do you say, Humphrey?" asked Jasper, who had now approached us. "Iwould like to see the inside of a Spanish ship. If 'tis aught like theoutside it should be well worth an examination. "

"A look at the Santa Luisa will repay your trouble, gentlemen, " said theSpaniard with a proud smile. "There is no faster ship for her size onthe high seas. "

"I am agreeable, " said I. "Our own ship is not yet come, and time beginsto hang heavy. "

"Then you shall come on board to-night, " said Captain Nunez. "Until sixof the clock I am engaged on shore, but at that hour I will have a boatawaiting us at the harbor stairs, and you shall go aboard with me, gentlemen. "

So we agreed and parted with him, Jasper full of the matter, andexclaiming that we should have much to tell the folks at home. I, however, was beginning to get somewhat impatient with respect to our ownship, which its owner now believed to have been unexpectedly detained, and I only regarded the visit to the Santa Luisa as a diversion. 

At six o'clock that night, Jasper and I met the Spaniard at the harborstairs and went on board his vessel. We found the Santa Luisa to be avery fine ship, and of much more pretentious appearance as regarded herfittings than our own English trading vessels. We passed an hour or soin examining her, and were then pressed by Senor Nunez to enter hiscabin and enjoy his hospitality. 

I have no very clear recollection of what followed. I remember that weate and drank, that the Spaniard was vastly amusing in his discourse, and that I began to feel mighty sleepy. After that I must have gone tosleep. 

When I came to my full senses again I was lying in a hammock, and Icould tell from the motion of the ship that we were at sea in a good, fresh wind. The Spaniard stood by me, regarding me attentively. Istarted up and addressed him. 

"Senor Nunez! I have been asleep. Where am I? The ship seems to bemoving!"

"The ship is moving, Master Salkeld, " he answered, in his smooth, richvoice. "At this moment she is off the Lincolnshire coast. You have sleptfor twelve hours. "

CHAPTER V. 

PHARAOH NANJULIAN AGAIN. 

I do not know to this day how I got out of the hammock, but no soonerdid I hear the Spanish captain utter these words than I made haste to goon deck and examine the truth of his statement for myself. But beforeI could reach the companion I reeled and staggered, and should havefallen, if Nunez had not seized my arm and supported me. He helped me toa seat, and handed me a glass containing a restorative. 

"You are not well, " he said. "But you will come round presently. "

"Senor!" I cried, "what is the meaning of this? Why am I on this ship, and why are we at sea? How is it that I am not at Scarborough? There hasbeen some treachery--some foul play!"

"Nay, " said he, "be moderate, I entreat you, Senor. Do not let there beany talk of treachery. Am I not serving you as a friend?"

"I do not comprehend anything of what you say, " I answered. "There issome mystery here. Again I ask you--why am I on board your ship and atsea?"

"And I ask you, Senor, where else did you expect to be but on board myship and at sea?"

I stared at the man in amaze and wonder. He returned my gazeunflinchingly, but I felt certain that in his eyes there was a cruelmockery of me, and my blood seemed to turn cold within me as Irecognized that I was in the Spaniard's power. But, being now in adesperate mood, I strove to be cool and to keep my wits about me. 

"I expected to be at Scarborough, Senor, " I said. "Where else? Iremember coming aboard your vessel and eating and drinking with you, but after that I must have fallen asleep. I wake and find myself atsea. "

"Naturally you do, " said he with a smile. "Allow me, Master Salkeld, torecall to you certain incidents which took place last night. You came onboard my ship with your cousin, Master Stapleton, and I offered you mypoor hospitality. Was that all that took place?"

"It was, " said I, confidently enough. 

"That is strange, " said he, giving me another of his queer looks. "Ifear you have undergone some strange mental change in your long sleep. But as I perceive that you do not understand me, I will explain mattersto you. Last night, Master Salkeld, as you and your cousin sat at meatwith me, you explained to me that you had committed some great crimeagainst the laws of your country, and that it was necessary, if youwould save your head, to leave England at once. I remarked that I wasabout to set sail for the West Indies, and should be pleased to takeyou as my passenger, whereupon you and your cousin having consultedtogether, you paid me the passage-money--and here we are. "

The man told me all this with the utmost assurance, his face utterlyunmoved and his strange eyes inscrutable. It was a lie from beginning toend, and I knew it to be a lie. Nevertheless, I knew also that I waspowerless, and I made up my mind to act prudently. 

"Senor, " I replied, "as between you and me, I may as well tell you thatI do not believe a single word of what you have said. There has beentreachery--and it lies with you and my rascal cousin, Jasper Stapleton. I have committed no crime against the laws, and I wish to be put ashoreat your earliest opportunity. "

"You shall be obeyed, Master Salkeld, " he replied, bowing low, but witha mocking smile about his lips. 

"Where do you first touch land?" I inquired. 

"I have already told you, Master Salkeld. Somewhere in the West Indies. "

"But you do not mean to carry me to the West Indies?" I cried. "Why, 'tis a journey of many thousands of miles!"

"Precisely. Nevertheless, you must undertake it. We touch no land untilwe make Barbadoes or Martinique. "

I said no more; it was useless. I was in the man's power. Nothing that Icould say or do would alter his purpose. There had been villainy andtreachery--and my cousin, Jasper Stapleton, had worked it. Icomprehended everything at that moment. I had been lured on board theSpanish vessel and subsequently drugged, in order that Jasper might ridhimself of my presence. That was plainly to be seen. But what of thefuture? The West Indies, I knew, were thousands of miles away. They werein the hands of our hereditary enemies, the Spaniards. From them Ishould receive scant mercy or consideration. I was penniless--for mymoney had disappeared--and even if I had possessed money, what would ithave benefited me in a savage land like that to which I was beingcarried? I might wait there many a long year without meeting with anEnglish ship. I turned to the Spaniard. 

"So I am a prisoner, Senor, --your prisoner?"

"My ship and my goods are at your disposal, Senor, " he replied. 

"So long as I do not make any demands upon them, eh?"

"Say unreasonable demands, Master Salkeld. As a matter of fact you arefree to walk or stand, sit or lie, wake or sleep as you please. Ientertain you as I best can until we touch land--and then you go yourown way. You have made a contract with me, you have paid your money, andnow I have nothing to do but carry out my share of the bargain. "

"And that is----?"

"To take you to the West Indies. "

"Very good, Senor. Now we understand each other. You will perhaps notobject to my telling you, that when I next meet my cousin, Master JasperStapleton, I will break his head for his share in this foul conspiracy. "

"I do not object in the least, Master Salkeld. But you do well to say, when you next meet him. "

"Why so, Senor?"

"Because it is so highly improbable. Indeed, you will never be so nearEngland again as you are at this moment. "

I looked through the port, and saw the long, flat Lincolnshire coast. The day was dull and heavy, and the land was little more than a graybank, but it meant much to me. I was being carried away from all that Iloved, from my sweetheart, my uncle, my friends, from everything thathad grown a part of my daily life. And I was going--where? That I knewnot. Not to the West Indies--no, I was sure of that. Captain ManuelNunez was an accomplished liar in everything, and I felt sure that hehad another lie in reserve yet. At the thought of him and of Jasper'svillainy the blood boiled in my veins, and tears of rage and despairgathered in my eyes. But what was the use of anger or sorrow? I waspowerless. 

I now made up my mind to show a good face to all these troubles anddifficulties, and, therefore, I strove to be as much at my ease as waspossible under the circumstances. I walked the decks, talked with suchof the men as knew a word or two of English, and cultivated as much ofthe captain's acquaintance as my aversion to his wickedness wouldpermit. I learnt the names of masts, sheets, stays, and sprits, andpicked up other information of seafaring matters, thinking that itmight some day be useful to me. I am bound to say that Senor ManuelNunez was very courteous towards me. But what avails courtesy, when thecourteous man is only waiting his time to injure you?

We had been at sea something like three weeks, and had passed Ushantfour days previously, when, sailing south-by-west, we were overtaken bya gale and had to run before it with bare poles. Upon the secondmorning, our lookout, gazing across a stormy sea, cried that he saw aman clinging to a piece of wreckage on the lee bow, and presently allthose on deck were conscious of the same sight. The man was drifting andtossing half a mile away, and had seen us, for he was making franticefforts to attract our notice. I was somewhat surprised when CaptainNunez took steps to rescue him, for it would have fitted in with mynotion of his character if he had suffered the wretch to remain unaided, However, he sent off a boat, which eventually brought away the man fromhis piece of wreckage, and had hard work to make the ship again, for thesea was running hard and high. The rescued man crouched in the stern, hiding his head in his hands, so that I did not see his face until hecame aboard. Then it seemed familiar, but I could not bethink me where Ihad seen it before. 

"And who art thou, friend?" asked Nunez. 

"A mariner of Plymouth, good sir, " answered the man, "and sole survivorof the ship Hawthorn. Lost she is, and all hands, save only me. "

Then I suddenly recognized him. It was the Cornish sailor, PharaohNanjulian. So the sea had given me a friend in need. 

CHAPTER VI. 

SCHEMES AND STRATAGEMS. 

I was not minded to let Captain Nunez and the crew--every man of whichwas either Spaniard or Portugee--see that I had any knowledge of the manwhom they had rescued, and therefore I presently went below and kept outof the way for a while. Somehow I felt a considerable sense ofgratification at the thought of the Cornishman's presence on board. Heseemed to me a man of resource and of courage, and I no sooner set eyeson him in this remarkable fashion, than I began to think how he mightaid me in making my escape from my present position. 

After a time Nunez came down into the cabin where I sat, and began totalk with me. 

"We have fallen in with a countryman of yours, Master Salkeld, " saidhe, regarding me closely, as if he wished to see how I took the news. 

"Indeed!" said I. "The man just come aboard?"

"The same. A native of Cornwall, with an outlandish name, and anappetite as large as his body, judging by the way he eats. "

"He is no doubt hungry, Senor, " I said. "Perhaps he has been tossingabout for a while. "

"A day and a night. One additional mouth, Master Salkeld, is what I didnot bargain for. "

"But you would not have allowed the man to drift away to starvation anddeath?" I said. 

"His life was no concern of mine, Master Salkeld. But I can make himuseful; therefore he was worth saving. I shall enroll him as one of mycrew, and carry him to the Indies. "

"And then?"

"Then he will go ashore with you, unless he prefers to go back with meto Cadiz--which he probably will not do. "

He left me then, and I sat wondering what he meant by saying that theEnglish sailor would probably not care to go back to Spain with him. There seemed something sinister in his meaning. But I gave over thinkingabout it, for I was by that time firmly convinced that Captain ManuelNunez was a thorough-paced scoundrel, and well fitted to undertake allmanner of villainy, despite his polished manners and fine words. Also, Iwas certain that there was in store for me some unpleasant and possiblyterrible fate, which I was powerless to avoid and which was certain tocome. Therefore I had resigned myself to my conditions, and only hopedto show myself a true Englishman when my time of trouble came. 

Nevertheless, many a sad hour and day did I spend, looking across thegreat wild waste of gray water and wondering what they were doing atBeechcot. In my sad thoughts and in my dreams I could see the littlehamlet nestling against the purple Wold; the brown leaves piled highabout the shivering hedgerows; the autumn sunlight shining over theclose-cropped fields; and in the manor-house the good knight, my uncle, seated by his wood-fire, wondering what had become of me. Also I couldsee the old vicarage and the vicar, good Master Timotheus, thumbing hiswell-loved folios, and occasionally pushing his spectacles from his noseto look round and inquire whether there was yet news of the boyHumphrey. But more than these, I saw my sweetheart's face, sad and wearywith fear, and her eyes seemed as if they looked for something and wereunsatisfied. And then would come worse thoughts--thoughts of Jasper andhis villainy, and of what it might have prompted him to in the way oflies. He would carry home a straight and an ingenious tale--I was verysure of that. He would tell them I was drowned or kidnaped, and nobodywould doubt his story. That was the worst thought of all--that my dearones should be thinking of me as one dead while I was simply a prisoner, being carried I knew not where, nor to what fate. 

On the evening of the second day after the Cornish sailor came aboard, the weather having moderated and the ship making good progress, I wasleaning over the port bulwarks moodily gazing at the sea, when I felt atouch on my hand. Looking round, I saw the Englishman engaged in coilinga rope close to me. He continued his task and spoke in a low voice. 

"I recognized you, master, " said he. "I looked through the skylight lastnight as you talked with the captain, and I knew you again. I know nothow you came here, nor why, but it is strange company for a youngEnglish gentleman. "

"I was trapped on board, " I said. 

"I thought so, " he responded. "But speak low, master, and take no heedof me. We can converse while I work, but it will not do for us to beseen talking too much. The less we are noticed together the better forour necks. How came you here, master? I had no thought of seeing you insuch company. "

I told him as briefly as possible while he continued to coil the rope. 

"Aye, " said he, when I had finished my story, "I expected something ofthat sort. Well, I am glad that the old Hawthorn left me swimming, though sorry enough that all her merry men are gone down below. Butwhat! death must come. Now, young master, what can we do? I swore asolemn oath when your good uncle befriended me that I would serve you. This is the time. What can I do?"

"Alas, " said I, "I know not. "

"Do you know whither we are bound?" he asked. 

"The Captain says to the West Indies. But I do not know if that be trueor false. "

"More likely to be false than true, master. Now, then, hearken to me, young sir. I have seen a deal of life, and have been a mariner thisthirty year or more. We must use our wits. Can you, do you think, findout what our destination really is?"

"I am afraid not, " I replied. "Nunez will not tell me more than he hasalready told me. "

"True, " said he; "true--you will get naught out of him. But I have abetter chance. I can talk to the men--well it is that I know their lingosufficiently for that. But nay, I will not talk to them, I will listeninstead. They do not know that I understand Spanish. There are three ofthem speak broken English--they shall do the talking. I will keep myears open for their Spanish--peradventure I shall hear something worthmy trouble. You see, master, if we only know where we are going, andwhat we have to expect when we get there, we shall be in a much betterposition than we are now. For now we are as men that walk in a fog, notknowing where the next step will take them. "

"I will do whatever you wish, " said I. 

"Then be careful not to have over-much converse with me, master. YonNunez has the eye of a hawk and the stealth of a viper, and if he doesbut suspect that you and I are in treaty together, he will throw meoverboard with a dagger wound under my shoulder-blade. "

"How shall we hold converse, then?"

"As we are now doing. If I have aught to tell you I will give you a signwhen you are near me. A wink, or a nod, or a cough--either will do. Andwhat I have to say I will say quickly, so that whoever watches us willthink we do no more than pass the time of day. "

So for that time we parted, and during the next few days I watched forPharaoh Nanjulian's sign eagerly, and was sadly disappointed when Ireceived it not. Indeed, for nearly a week he took no notice of mewhatever, giving me not even a sign of recognition as I passed him onthe deck, so that Nunez was minded to remark upon his indifference. 

"Your countryman seems but a surly dog, " said he. "I should have thoughthe would have sought your company, Master Salkeld, but he seems to careno more for it than for that of the ship's dog. "

"He is a Cornishman and a sailor, and I am a Yorkshireman and agentleman, " said I. "In England we should not associate one with theother, so wherefore should we here?"

"Nay, true, unless that you are companions in adversity, and that makesstrange bedfellows, " said he. "But you English are not given totalking. "

I hoped that he really thought so, and that he had no idea of thethoughts within me. I was ready enough to talk when Pharaoh Nanjuliangave the signal. 

It came at last as he stood at the wheel one night, and I stood near, apparently idling away my time. 

"Now, master, " said he, "continue looking over the side and I will talk. I have found out where we are going. "

"Well?" I said, eager enough for his news. 

"We are bound for Vera Cruz, master. "

"Where is that? In the West Indies?"

"It is a port of Mexico, master, and in the possession of the Spaniards, who are devils in human shape. "

"And what will they do with us there?"

"That I have also found out. It seems that your good cousin, MasterStapleton, did make a bargain with this noble Spanish gentleman, CaptainNunez, for getting you out of the way. The bo's'n, Pedro, says thatyour cousin suggested that Nunez should sail you out to sea, and thenknock you on the head and heave you overboard. But Nunez would have noneof that, and decided that he would carry you with him to Vera Cruz. "

"And what will befall me at Vera Cruz?"

"He, being a pious man, will hand you over to the Holy Office. "

"To the Holy Office! You mean the Inquisitors? And they----"

"They will burn you for a Lutheran dog, master. "

We were both silent for awhile. I was thinking of naught but thefiendish cruelty which existed in such a man as Manuel Nunez. PresentlyI thought of Pharaoh Nanjulian. 

"And yourself?" I said. "What will he do with you?"

"I am to share your fate, master. Senor Nunez is a good and pious son ofMother Church, and he will wipe out a score or two of sins bypresenting the stake with two English heretics. "

After that I thought again for a time. 

"Pharaoh, " I said at last, "we will not die very willingly. I have agood deal to live for. There is my sweetheart and my uncle to go backto, and also I have an account to settle with Jasper Stapleton. I willmake an effort to do all this before my time comes. "

"I am with you, master, " said he. 

"Have you thought of anything?" I asked. 

"Nothing, but that we must escape, " he answered. 

"Could we manage that after the ship reaches Vera Cruz?"

"No, for a surety. We shall be watched as cats watch mice. If we everset foot on a quay-side in that accursed port, master, we are dead men. God help us! I know what the mercies of these Spaniards are. I stood inthe City of Mexico and saw two Englishmen burnt. That was ten yearsago. But more of that anon. Let us see to the present. We are dead men, I say, if we set foot in Vera Cruz, or any port of that cruel region. "

"Then there is but one thing for us, " I said. 

"And that, master?"

"We must leave this ship before she drops anchor. "

"That is a good notion, " said he, "a right good notion; but the thingis, how to do it?"

"Could we not take one of the boats some night, and get away in it?"

"Aye, but there are many things to consider. We should have to victualit, and then we might run short, for we should have no compass, and nonotion, or very little, of our direction. We might starve to death, ordie of thirst. "

"I had as soon die of thirst or hunger, as of fire and torture. "

"Marry, and so would I. Yea, it were better to die here on the wideocean than in the market-place of Mexico or Vera Cruz. "

"Let us try it, Pharaoh. Devise some plan. I will not fail to help if Ican be of any use. "

"I will think, " he said; "I will think till I find a means of escape. Ireckon that we have still a month before us. It shall go hard if ourEnglish brains cannot devise some method whereby we may outwit theseSpanish devils. "

So we began to plot and plan, spurred on by the knowledge of whatawaited us in Mexico. 

CHAPTER VII. 

WE ESCAPE THE SPANIARDS. 

Now that I knew his real sentiments towards me, it was very difficult topreserve my composure and indifference in the presence of Captain ManuelNunez. As I sat at table with him, or talked with him on deck or in hiscabin, I had hard work to keep from telling him my real thoughts of hiswicked nature. Nay, sometimes I was sore put to it to keep my hands fromhis throat. Nothing would have pleased me better than to find either himor my cousin Jasper in some lonely spot where no odds could have favoredthem or me. Then my wrongs should have received full vengeance, and nonewould have blamed me for meting it out to these two villains. Judge howhard it was for me to have to associate, week after week, with one ofthe men who had so deeply wronged me, and, moreover, to have topreserve towards him a certain degree of cordiality. Try as I would, however, I could not give Nunez as much in the way of politeness asNunez gave me. My manners were surly at the best, and I had much ado topreserve them at all. 

Getting in the way of fair winds, we sighted the Bahamas, and passed thenorth-west coast of Cuba somewhere about the beginning of September. Wewere then some five hundred miles from Vera Cruz, but it was not untilChristmas week that we bore down upon the Mexican coast. It was, Ithink, on Christmas morning that I first saw the shores of thatbeautiful land, whose natural loveliness served but to make more evidentthe horrible cruelties of the men who had seized and possessed it. Fairand wonderful it was as the mists lifted under the sun's warmth to seethe giant peak of Orizaba lifting its head, snow-white and awful, intothe clear air, while full seventeen thousand feet below it the land laydim and indistinct, nothing more than a bank of gray cloud. 

"You would think a country with such a mountain as that would be a placeof much delight, master, would you not?" said Pharaoh Nanjulian, pointing to the great white peak. "It looks fair and innocent enough, but it is a very devil's land, this Mexico, since the Spaniards overranit; and yonder peak is an emblem of nothing in it, except it be theinnocence of those who are murdered in God's name. "

"What mountain is that?" I inquired. 

"Orizaba, master. It lies some sixty miles beyond Vera Cruz, and is of aheight scarcely credible to us Englishmen. God be thanked that there isso little wind to-day! With a fair breeze we should have been in portere nightfall. As it is, we must take our chance to-night, master, orfall into the hands of the Inquisition. "

"I am ready for aught, " said I. "But have you thought of a plan?"

"Aye, trust me for that. Marry! I have thought of naught else since wecame through the Bahamas. Certainly our chances are exceedingly small, for we must needs land in a country that is infested with our enemies, but we will do our best. "

"Tell me your plan, Pharaoh. "

"'Tis simplicity itself, master. To-night it is my watch. When thecaptain is asleep in his cabin, do you come on deck and go aft. You willfind a boat alongside, and into it you must contrive to get as you bestcan. Hide yourself there so that no one can see you from the deck. Whenthe watch is changed, instead of going forward I shall make for theboat. No one will see me, I promise you. When I am with you we shall cutthe boat adrift and let the vessel outsail us. Then we must make for thecoast in the direction of Tuxtla. We shall know which way to steerbecause of the volcano. But after that--why, I know not what we shalldo. "

"Have you no plan?"

"Marry, I have ideas. We might go across country to Acapulco, hoping tofind there an English ship; but 'tis a long and weary way, and what withIndians and wild beasts I fear we should never get there. Howbeit let ustackle one danger at a time. "

Being then called to dinner I went below, and was perforce once moreobliged to sit at meat with my jailer, who, now that his charge of mewas coming to an end, was more polite than ever, and treated me withexceeding great courtesy. 

"You have been on deck, Master Salkeld, " said he, "and have doubtlessperceived that we are in sight of land. "

"I have seen the great mountain, Senor, " I answered. 

"True, the land is yet little more than a line. If the wind had beenfair we should have dropped anchor ere midnight. Your voyage has been along one, but I trust you have not been inconvenienced. "

"Only as a man may be by the loss of his liberty, Senor. "

"You will soon be free, " he answered, giving me one of his strange, mocking smiles. "And I trust that when we part it will be with a fullrecognition on your side of the way in which I have carried out ourbargain. "

"As I do not remember our bargain, Senor, I am afraid that is hardlypossible, " I made answer. 

"Chut! your memory is certainly at fault. However, the facts willprobably occur to you--later. "

"Part of the bargain, if I remember your first mention of it, Senor, wasthat you should carry me to the West Indies. "

"You are right in that, " said he. 

"Are we approaching the West Indies?"

"The West Indies is a wide term, Master Salkeld. We are certainly notapproaching the West India islands. We are, in fact, off the coast ofMexico, and the mountain you see in the distance is the famed peak ofOrizaba. To-morrow morning we shall drop anchor in the port of VeraCruz. "

"And what shall I do there, Senor?"

He smiled at the question--a mysterious smile, which had a grim meaningbehind it. 

"Who knows, Senor? There are many occupations for a young and activegentleman. "

Now, for the life of me I could not help asking him a very pertinentquestion before I left the cabin to return on deck. 

"Senor, " I said, "seeing that we are to part so soon you will perhapsnot object to giving me some information. How much did my cousin, MasterJasper Stapleton, pay you for your share in this matter?"

He gave me a curious glance out of his eye corners. 

"The amount of your passage-money, Master Salkeld, was two hundredEnglish guineas. I hope you consider the poor accommodation which I havebeen able to give you in accordance with that sum. "

"I have no fault to find with the accommodation, Senor, " I replied. "Sofar as the bodily comfort of your prisoner was concerned you have provedyourself a good jailer. "

"Let us hope you will never find a worse, Master Salkeld, " he answered, with another mocking smile. "But, indeed, you wrong me in speaking of meas a jailer. Say rather a kind and considerate host. "

I repressed the words which lay on the tip of my tongue ready to flingat him, and went on deck. The wind was still against us, and the shipmade little progress, for which both Pharaoh and I were devoutlythankful, neither of us being minded to make Vera Cruz ere night fell. Certainly there was little to choose between the two courses open tous. If we were handed over to the Inquisitors by Nunez, we shouldcertainly be burned at the stake, or, at any rate, racked, tortured, andturned over to a slave-master. If we reached shore we should have toundergo many privations and face all manner of perils, with everyprobability of ultimately falling into the hands of the Spaniards oncemore. Indeed, so certain did it seem that we should eventually meet ourfate at the stake, or the rack, that more than once I doubted whether itwas worth our while to attempt an escape. 

But life is sweet, however dark its prospects may be, and a true manwill always fight for it, though the odds against him are great. And, moreover, when a man knows what manner of death it is that awaits him, he will make the most desperate efforts to escape it, if it be such adeath as that intended for us by the Spaniards. Now, although I hadlived in such an out-of-the-way part of England, I had heard many afearful story of the wrongs and cruelties practiced by the Inquisitorsin Mexico. Tales came across the wide ocean of rackings and tormentingsand burnings, of men given over to slavery, wearing their San-benitosfor many a weary year, and perhaps dying of torture in the end. We woulddo something to escape a fate like that, God helping us!

Late that night Captain Nunez stood by my side on deck. The wind nowblew from the north-west, and the ship was making headway towards land. To the south-east, through the darkness, glimmered the volcanic fire ofTuxtla, but the giant peak of Orizaba had disappeared. 

"To-morrow at sunrise, Master Salkeld, we shall be in the port of VeraCruz, " said Nunez. "I have some friends there to whom I will give you anintroduction. Till then, Senor, sleep well. "

He smiled at me in the dim lantern light and went below. I remainedpacing the deck for another hour. Once or twice I looked over the sideand saw the boat swinging below our stern. Now, the poop of the Spanishship was of a more than usual height, and I foresaw that I should havesome difficulty in getting into the boat, and run a fair chance ofdrowning. Better drown, I thought, than burn; and so, after a time, thedeck being quiet, I climbed over the side and managed to drop into theboat, where I made haste to hide myself as I best could. 

It was some two hours after that when Pharaoh Nanjulian joined me, andimmediately cut us adrift. 

The ship seemed to glide away from us into the darkness. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

AN UNKNOWN LAND. 

Now, although we were adrift in a perilous sea, and had no hope ofmaking land, save in a wild and savage country, where there was morehope of mercy from the Indians than from the civilized Spaniards, I wasyet so thankful to find myself free of the ship and of Senor ManuelNunez, that for some moments I could scarcely believe in my freedom. 

"I could swear that I am but dreaming and shall presently awake to findmyself a prisoner, " I said to Pharaoh, who was busily engaged inexamining the boat. 

"'Tis no dream, master, " said he. "This is a very stern reality, as youshall quickly find. Nor is it time for dreaming. If we mean to come outof this adventure with whole skins, we shall have to acquit ourselveslike true men. "

"I am ready, " said I. "Tell me what to do, and I will do it. "

"Well said, " he answered approvingly. "But I could see from the outsetthat you had the true spirit in you. You are a Yorkshireman, master, andI am a sea-dog of Cornwall; but, marry, we are both Englishmen, and wewill come out of this scrape yet. 'Tis not the worst I have been in--butmore of that anon. Now to begin with, we will discuss our presentsituation, and then, having determined our course of action, we will putit into execution. "

So we talked things over, and eventually came to these conclusions. Wewere, so far as Pharaoh could reckon, about ten miles from land, and wemust reach the coast during the night if we wished to escapeobservation. That accomplished, we must strike across country forAcapulco, where it was possible we might meet with an English ship. Thedistance was some three hundred miles in a bee-line, and the characterof the country rough; but that mattered little, for we should ofnecessity be obliged to keep away from the roads and bridges. There wasno considerable town on our way, save Oaxaca, and that we must leave toour left. If we fell in with Spaniards we were lost men, for they wouldcertainly carry us to Vera Cruz or to Mexico, and there hand us over tothe Inquisitors. As for wild beasts and Indians, we must take ourchance, trusting in God's mercy for protection and help. 

We now examined the boat, which was but a small craft that had beenunstrung the day before, in order that the ship's carpenter mightexamine some fancied defect in the rudder. Fortunately a pair of oarshad been left in her, and these Pharaoh now took in hand, bidding mesteer for the volcanic flame, which played over the peak of Tuxtla, immediately before us. 

"I can pull ten miles in this sea, " said he, "and I warrant you have hadlittle experience in that line, master. Now, you see that the wind hasdrifted us due south until to-night, and therefore Nunez has come somefive-and-thirty miles out of his course for Vera Cruz. He will now beatup along the coast, heading north and west, and so if we steersouth-by-east he will have hard work to catch us when he finds that weare gone, as he will ere morning. And now to work. "

Thereupon he fell to the oars, and with such good-will, that the lightcraft, her nose kept towards the volcanic fire, began to shoot throughthe regular swell of the placid ocean at a comfortable rate. Hour afterhour he toiled, and would hear naught of my relieving him, though histhroat grew dry with thirst and his arms ached. Gradually the coastloomed higher and higher through the gloom, and at length Pharaoh pulledin his oars, and stood up in the bow to look around him. 

"When I was off this coast ten years ago, " said he, "I remember a spothereabouts where a boat might land with safety and ease. We will liequiet till the light comes, master, and then attempt a landing. "

"But suppose Nunez should see us?"

"He could not catch us ere we land if he did, unless by some strangechance he has gotten to the east of us--and that's not possible, " saidPharaoh. "I reckon that by this time he is twenty miles to westward ofus, and therefore we are well out of his reach. "

So we hove-to until the morning began to break, when, spying aconvenient creek, we ran the boat ashore, and so set foot on Mexicansoil, wondering what was to befall us next. 

Now, to me, who had never seen aught of any land save England, these newsurroundings were exceeding strange and wonderful. Although it was yetbut a half-light all round us on shore, the giant peak of Orizaba, rising high and magnificent across the land to the north-west, wasalready blazing in the saffron-colored tints of early morning, whiledirectly above us the lower heights of Tuxtla also reflected the rays ofthe rising sun. Once away from the shore the vegetation surprised anddelighted me exceedingly. Great trees, such as I had never seen or heardof, sprang from the rocks and towered above us like gigantic ferns; theundergrowth was thick and luxurious, and the grass under foot was softand heavy as velvet. Also, though it was winter, there were flowers andplants blossoming in the open such as never blossom in our Englishglass-houses, so that altogether I was amazed at the richness andprodigality of the land, and said so to my companion. 

"Aye, " said he, "'tis indeed a fair land, master, and would be very wellif these murderous Spaniards had left it alone. As it is, they havesimply turned it into a pandemonium, such as all lands, fair or foul, become when men go a-lusting for gold and treasure. Yea, not even theIndians, with all their heathenish practices, were half so cruel asthese Spaniards with their racks and thumb-screws, their stakes anddaggers. And therefore the more reason why we should avoid them. "

Having somewhat refreshed ourselves by a brief rest, and armed ourselveswith two stout cudgels cut from a neighboring tree by Pharaoh's knife, which was the only weapon we had, we set forth through the woods, heleading the way. By that time we were faint with hunger and could wellhave done with a meal, but though there were, doubtless, Indian villagesclose at hand we dare enter none of them, and so went forward with emptystomachs. In the woods, however, we came upon prickly pears, which theregrow wild, and these we essayed to eat; but had great difficulty instripping them of the prickles, which, if they enter the tongue, docause an unpleasantness that is not soon forgot. Our hunger growingvery keen we sought to capture or slay some bird or animal, and Pharaohbeing accustomed to this sort of hunting--for he had known manyadventures--presently succeeded in knocking down a wild turkey, flocksof which bird we constantly encountered. We lighted a fire by means ofhis flint and steel, and cooked our quarry, and so went forward againrefreshed by the food, which was pleasant enough to hungry men. 

We pressed on for two days through the woods, living as we best couldupon such animals as Pharaoh was able to knock down, and on the pears, which were all the more aggravating to our hunger because of their sharpspines. During those two days we did not come in contact with humanbeings, though we thrice saw parties of Indians and had to concealourselves from them. We followed no path, and if we chanced to crossone we immediately left it and plunged deeper into the woods. By the endof the first day our clothes were torn to rags, and hung in strips fromour backs; by the end of the second our shoes had been cut to pieces, and so we looked as wretched and lost a couple of vagabonds as you eversaw. 

On the evening of the second day we came to the verge of the woodedheights, and saw before us the wide plain of Orizaba, which lay betweenus and Acapulco, and must needs be crossed if we meant to reach thePacific coast. 

"It is here that I see most reason to be a-feared, " said Pharaoh, as wehalted and looked out across the plain. "There is precious little coveror shelter on this plain, and it will be a miracle if we escapeobservation in crossing it. Moreover, there are constantly traversing itbodies of Spaniards, going to and from Oaxaca and Mexico, so that weshall be liable to capture at any moment, having nowhere to hideourselves. "

"How would it do to hide ourselves as we best can by day, and to goforward by night?" said I. 

"'Tis a good notion, master, and we will try it, " he answered. "But Ifear me there is little in which we can hide, and as for food, I do notsee how we are to manage. Howbeit, we will not despair yet awhile, having managed so far. "

That night we accordingly made our way across the wide and lonely plain, having for our guide the constellation Virgo, which Pharaoh Nanjulianknew and pointed out to me with some learning. 

"Them that go down to the sea in ships, " said he, "must needs learn agood deal if they would prosper. I have studied the heavens somewhat, because more than once it has been my lot to find myself at sea withouta compass, and in a plight like that a knowledge of the stars andplanets is a good thing for a man to have at his command. Now, if we dobut set our faces to yonder constellation we shall keep in a straightline for Acapulco--and God send we may land there safely!"

We made fairly good progress across the plain, but when morning brokefrom the eastern horizon we were still many a long mile from the greatterrace of mountainous land which divides Mexico from Oaxaca and thePacific coast. Therefore we had to cast about us for some shelter. Thiswe had great difficulty in securing, for the plain at that part wasentirely barren of shrub or tree, and there was not even a water-courseat which we could slack our parched throats. But coming upon ahalf-ruined hut, which had evidently been the home of some MexicanIndian, tending his sheep in those wild parts, we took refuge in it andlay down to sleep, hoping that no one passing that way would feelcurious enough to stop and examine our shelter. 

This sort of life continued to be our lot for another day and night, during which we had scarcely anything in the way of food, and alsosuffered severely from thirst. And what with this, and with our fear ofmeeting Indians and Spaniards materially increased, our condition was byno means a happy one. But we still continued to hope, and to cheer eachother onward. 

CHAPTER IX. 

AN ADVENTURE OF SOME IMPORTANCE. 

We traveled in this fashion, sleeping in the daytime and pressingforward during the night, until the sixth day after our departure fromthe ship. By that time we were both considerably changed in health andappearance. Our clothes were torn to rags, our feet and arms were tornand bleeding, and our vagabond air increased with every mile we covered. Of our looks, however, we thought nothing; but we were perforce obligedto think a good deal of our unfortunate stomachs, which had not beeneither filled or reasonably satisfied since we set foot in thoseregions. Hunger and privation, in short, were doing their work upon us, and we were doubtful if we should manage to hold out until we hadcrossed the country and made Acapulco. 

Towards evening of the sixth day of our travels, we were lying asleep ina little gully formed by the descent of a mountain stream into the plainwhich we were then quitting. We had arrived at this spot early thatmorning, and finding sweet and fresh water there had drunk heartily ofit and lain down to sleep in a sheltered spot. We were both well-nighexhausted that morning, and our hunger was exceeding fierce; butsharp-set as we were our limbs refused to carry us on any foragingexpedition, and therefore we sank to sleep, and slept despite our hungerand danger. It was well towards evening when I suddenly awoke. I knownot what it was that made me open my eyes so suddenly, but there flashedthrough my mind at that moment a notion that we were being watched. Itwas a strange feeling, and one that occasioned me considerablediscomposure, not to say fright, and it seemed to enter my brain withthe same ray of sunlight that lifted my eyelids. And so strong was thisfeeling, that I experienced no surprise or astonishment when I saw twoeyes looking straight into mine from over the top of a rock which roseimmediately in front. 

Nevertheless it was a hideous and fearful sight that I looked upon. Theeyes shone, not out of a human face foul or fair, but out of the slitsin a black cowl, drawn so tightly over its wearer's head that nothing ofhim was to be seen from forehead to chin. There was this horrible blackthing, a blot upon the bright sunlit sky behind, peeping at me from overthe rock, and out of its eye-holes gleamed two eyes, as keen and brightas those of a wild animal. If I had not just then been parched withthirst I should have screamed in my terror. As it was, I gave a feeblecry, and the black head instantly vanished. I leapt to my feet and ranforward to the rock. Below it the ground was broken and rocky, and at afew yards' distance was a belt of wood which stretched down to theplain. I fancied I could see a black robe disappearing amongst thetrees, but though I waited a few moments I saw no further signs of ahuman being. 

I returned to Pharaoh Nanjulian and woke him up. He was sound asleepwhen I touched him, but started to his feet as soon as I laid my hand onhis shoulder. 

"What is it, master?" he asked, scanning my face narrowly, as if he sawsome sign of disturbance there. "You look alarmed. "

"I have seen a man watching us. "

"What kind of a man? Where has he gone?"

"Nay, that I know not. When I opened my eyes just now they fell fullupon him. He stood behind that rock, peering over it at me. I saw naughtof him but his head, and that was hidden in a black cowl with eye-slits, through which his eyes gleamed like fire. "

Pharaoh shook his head. 

"'Tis a Familiar, " said he. "One of those accursed fanatics, master, that dog and pry after honest men like sleuth-hounds, and leave them notuntil the flame licks their bodies. This is bad news, i' faith. Whichway went he?"

I told him that I thought I had seen a black robe vanishing among thetrees below, but could not be certain. At that he seized his staff andwent down the slope himself, examining all the likely places in which aman might have concealed himself. But he found naught, and so came backto me, shaking his head. 

"You are sure you were not dreaming?" he asked. "Men dream of strangethings when hunger is on them. "

"How could I dream of what I never saw in my life?" said I. 

"You mean the black hood, master? Alas! I have seen it, and so has manya good man, to his sorrow. Those accursed fanatics! They creep about inGod's blessed sunlight like reptiles. You should see them walk thestreets. Close to the walls they go, their hands meekly folded, theircowled heads bent to the ground, and yet their eyes note everything. Godis on their lips--yea, but the devil is in their hearts. "

"What shall we do, Pharaoh?" I asked him. 

"Marry, all we can do is to leave this spot and push forward up themountains. There are yet two hours of daylight, but we must chance that. If we can escape this fellow until darkness sets in, we may yet give himthe slip altogether. "

So we set out once more, our bodies refreshed by our long sleep, but thehunger still fiercely gnawing within us. We were driven to plucking theprickly pears again, troublesome as was the peeling of them, for wecould eat them as we walked, whereas if we had gone a-hunting for wildturkeys or rabbits we should have had to light a fire, and that wouldhave attracted attention to our whereabouts. However, we were successfulin knocking down one or two birds, and these we took along with us, intending to cook them as soon as we considered ourselves in safety. 

As night fell we emerged from the wooded slope up which we had painfullytraveled, and found ourselves on a good road, evidently much used fortraffic. 

"This must be the highway that leads from Oaxaca to Vera Cruz, " saidPharaoh, looking out upon it from a sheltering tree; "and lo! yonder isa post-house. We must bide awhile where we are or we shall be seen. "

So we sat down amongst the undergrowth, which was there thick andluxurious, as it was in every wood we had yet crossed, and served toconceal us very well from observation. More than once, as we stayedthere, we heard the voices of people passing along the highroad above, and we judged from that, that if we ventured to show ourselves upon itbefore nightfall we should certainly be seen and stopped. Therefore, apart from our usual hunger and discomfort, we were very well content toremain hidden until such time as the coast cleared. 

Now about dark, and just as we were making up our minds to a freshstart, and wondering how we should fare in the mountainous range whichwe had yet to cross, there arose not far away along the highroad achorus of shouts and screams of such exceeding bitterness, that we feltsure murder was being done. We leapt to our feet and advanced to theedge of the highway, but feared to go further lest we should be seen. 

"'Tis some footpad affray, " said Pharaoh, "and none of our business. "

But just then came still shriller cries of entreaty for help, and theywere so pleading and full of agony, that we both leapt into the roadwith one accord. 

"That is a woman's voice, " said Pharaoh. "We must needs go to herassistance, come what will. Have your staff in readiness, master, and ifthere is need, strike hard. "

We ran swiftly down the road for some fifty yards, and then, turning asharp corner, came suddenly upon the cause of the disturbance. In themiddle of the highway stood a coach, drawn by two mules, and on eitherside of it were two tall fellows of ferocious aspect, striving to dragfrom it the occupants, who screamed for help without ceasing. There wasno driver or servant visible; the rogues had doubtless escaped to thewoods at the first sign of danger. 

"Take the two on the left, " said Pharaoh, "and get in the first blow, master. Look out for their daggers. "

Now I had never been engaged in a fight since the days when Jasper and Ioccasionally came to fisticuffs with the village boys at Beechcot, butI felt my blood warm at the notion of combat, and so I sprang in betweenthe two desperadoes who were busy at the left side of the coach, andlaid my staff about their ears with hearty good-will. They were tryingto drag an old man from the coach when we came up, and were threateninghim with what I took to be the most horrible of curses. I hit one ofthem fair and square on the shoulder before he knew of my presence, andhe immediately turned and fled, howling like a beaten dog. The otherturned on me with a cruel-looking knife, but I knocked it out of hishand with a blow that must have broken his wrist, and he too fled intothe woods with a fearful imprecation. Meanwhile, Pharaoh had beaten offhis men on the other side; one was limping along the highway howlingwith pain, and the other lay on the ground senseless. We had carried thefight with sharp and startling effect. 

Inside the coach sat an old gentleman and a young girl, and both were sofrightened, that when we assisted them to alight they were nearlyspeechless, and could only sigh and moan. Presently, however, the younglady found her tongue, and began to pour out an astonishingly rapid flowof words to me, none of which I understood, but which I took to beexpressions of gratitude. 

"Say naught, " whispered Pharaoh in my ear, "I will talk to them in theirown lingo. Do not let them see that we are English. "

"Noble gentlemen, " said the old man, presently recovering his speech, "Iknow not how to thank you for this valuable assistance. Caramba! if youhad not appeared when you did we should certainly have had our throatscut. Isabella mia, art thou safe? Did those knaves lay finger on thee?"

"They did but seize me by the wrist, father, " answered the young lady. "But yourself--you are not hurt?"

"Nay, child, I called too loudly for that. But certainly another momentwould have been our last. Senor, is yonder villain dead?"

"Nay, " said Pharaoh in his best Spanish, "he breathes, Senor, and willcome to presently. "

"I am beholden, deeply beholden to you both, gentlemen. Dios! to thinkthat I should be unable to travel on even so short a journey withsafety! And my own servants--where are they, rascals and poltroons thatthey are. Ho! Pedro, Chispa, Antonio! I warrant me the knaves are hidingin these woods. "

This was exactly the truth, for at the old gentleman's call threeserving-men came forward from the trees and advanced tremblingly towardsthe coach. At sight of them their master flew into a terrible rage, andscolded them with a vigor which at any other time would have amused mehighly. 

"Cowards and knaves that ye are!" quoth he. "A pretty body-guard, indeed. What, ye pitiful rogues, did I not fit ye all out with pikes andpistols before quitting Mexico in case we met with ventures of thissort? Oh, ye poltroons, to fly me at the first glimpse of danger! Andthou, Pedro Gomez, my coachman these ten years, fie upon thee!"

"Most noble Senor, " said the man, trembling and bowing, "I did but runto find assistance. "

"Thou liest, knave. Thou didst run to save thine own skin. But I willremember ye when we are safe in Oaxaca. I will have a convoy of soldiersover these mountains, and trust not to pitiful cowards like ye three. Tie me up this robber who lies there in the road, and fasten him behindthe coach. We will see justice done on him at Oaxaca. "

While the men were doing this the old gentleman once more talked toPharaoh, thanking us again, and asking how he could reward us. Were wejourneying to Oaxaca? If so, let us go along with him, and he wouldreward us bounteously for our protection. 

"We thank your honor, " said Pharaoh, "but we are two poor shipwreckedmariners, bound across country to Acapulco, where we hope to find ship. But if you would give us food and drink we would thank you, for in goodsooth we are desperately hungered. "

Now it luckily chanced that the coach was well supplied with both thecommodities which we desired so earnestly, and, therefore, the oldgentleman made haste to reward us according to Pharaoh's request, sothat presently we found ourselves with our arms full of meat and breadand bottles of wine, our new-found friend pressing all upon us withgreat hospitality. Also, he would have us to take a purse of money, assuring us that we should find it useful, and as we had not apenny-piece between us we accepted this offering with thankfulness. 

"I am sorry that ye cannot accompany me to Oaxaca, " said he. "I shouldhave been glad of the company of two such stalwart champions. But know, caballeros, that I am devoutly thankful to you, and will aid you if everye have need of me, and it lies in my power. "

So we thanked him and said farewell for that time, and when the coachhad gone on, taking the wounded prisoner with it, we continued our wayup the mountains, first supping heartily of the food and wine, andblessing God for it. 

"'Tis always well to help them that need help, " said Pharaoh. "Verily weare rewarded for so doing. This meat and drink makes a new man of me, master. "

And so it did of me, and it was well, for previously we had been sorelyput to it to keep any heart or soul within our starving bodies. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE BLACK SHADOWS. 

Our course that night being of more than usual roughness and difficulty, we made little headway, and by morning we had done no more than reachthe height of the mountain range over which we were climbing, and whichat that point was some three or four thousand feet above sea-level. Howbeit, we were not disappointed with our night's work, for when thesun rose we found ourselves looking out upon the wide plain whichstretches from those mountains to the sea-coast of the Pacific. Half ourjourney was over. 

"God send that all may be as well with us during this next journey as ithas been during the last, " said Pharaoh. "We have prospered exceedingwell so far--yea, much better than I expected. Only let us do as wellon our way over yonder plain and we shall reach Acapulco in safety. "

"But what then?" I asked, not knowing what his plans might be. 

"That, " he answered, "is a difficult question, master. We shallcertainly meet with no more love at Acapulco than at Vera Cruz, for theSpaniards have still some sore memories of the drubbings we have giventhem. But there we may find an English ship, for 'tis a convenient portfor those vessels that come north. Maybe we shall have to wait awhile, and lie hidden outside the city or on the coast. All that we must leavetill the time comes. 'Tis something that we have come thus far withoutlet or hindrance. "

And truly he was right there and we felt thankful to God for it. Intruth we had so far been most mercifully protected, and our adventureshad abundantly proved to us that God is merciful to men who have no hopeof any mercy or consideration from their fellow-creatures. 

We now sought out a convenient resting-place, and having found a quietcorner amongst the rocks, we sat down there and ate another hearty mealfrom the stores given to us by the old Spaniard, after which, feelingmuch refreshed, we lay down to sleep in a hopeful state of mind. Thegood food and drink had marvelously restored us, giving us new strengthin body and soul, so that we now hoped where we had previously beeninclined to despair. And so, being impelled to brighter thoughts thanhad filled our hearts for some days, we slept more composedly, and hadnone of those evil visions which had disturbed our sleep on formeroccasions. 

Nevertheless evil was drawing near to us while we slept. 

It was about half-way through the afternoon, when I woke with a suddenfeeling that all was not well. It was not the feeling which I hadexperienced the previous day, namely, that I was being watched, but acurious sensation of coming ill. How it came into my mind I know not;all I know is that I suddenly awoke and came into possession of all mysenses with startling swiftness, so that while I had been sound asleepone moment I was wide awake the next, and looking and listening withvery eager and acute perception. Also, my heart was beating hard in mybreast, as a man's heart will when he suddenly fronts some great danger. And then I knew that evil was at hand, and as I held up my head andlooked round I saw it draw near. 

The place in which we lay was a corner amongst the rocks on the side ofthe mountain. Before us lay a wide expanse of smooth stone, the top of agreat rock that had its base in the woods below. Behind us rose a highwall of rock, and beyond that was the sun, now sinking towards thewestern horizon. Where we lay everything was in deep shadow, but thetable-like piece of rock in front was bathed in brilliant sunlight, andwhen I woke and looked round my eyes fell upon it, and on a sight whichwas like to freeze my heart within me. 

Some ridge of rock or mountain high above us was outlined on the brightstretch of reflected sunlight at our feet, and on this as I lookedappeared two shadows--the shadows of human beings, standing motionlesson the ridge, and evidently looking out from that commanding positionacross the wide plain that lay far below. 

I recognized one of the shadows instantly. It was the figure of a mancloaked in some long clinging garment, that enveloped him from head tofoot. As he turned his head I saw the peculiar cowl, with its peakedtop, which had confronted me the previous day. 

The other shadow seemed to be that of a naked man, of slender, sinewylimbs, who carried a bow, and whose head was ornamented with long, waving feathers. Now he stood motionless against the sky, looking like afigure cut out of stone or bronze; now he shaded his eyes with his hand, evidently gazing across the plain below; now he stooped and seemed toexamine the ground at his feet. But the shadow of the cowled and cloakedfigure stood statue-like and never moved. 

Now, if you can so exercise your imagination as to put yourself in myplace, you will not be slow to recognize the terror which came over meat this unexpected sight. If I had seen a dozen armed men spring outupon us from the rocks I should have cared not. But to see thesesinister-looking shadows, motionless or restless, on the bright patch ofsunlight, was an awful thing--yea, to this day I do often see it in mydreams, and wake sweating with fear and horror. 

I leaned over and touched Pharaoh lightly. He woke on the instant andsat up. 

"Hush!" I whispered, pointing to the shadows. "Look there!"

He lifted his hand to his brow and gazed at the shadows with awonder-struck air. Then he seemed to recognize their import, and turnedto me with a shake of the head. 

"Lad, " said he, "we are about to have trouble. 'Tis that accursedFamiliar. He hath tracked us. Said I not that these devils in man'sshape are like sleuth-hounds?"

"But the other, Pharaoh? What is the other?"

"An Indian, lad. See there, he is stooping to examine the ground. Theyare like dogs--they will find a trace where we should see naught. "

"What shall we do?"

"God help us!--I know not. Once on our track they will hunt us down. Seethere!"

To the two shadows was suddenly added a third, a fourth, a fifth, then asixth and seventh, and presently others until we counted twelve. 

"All Indians except the monk, " said Pharaoh. "He is the huntsman andthey are his dogs. See, they are separating again. Lad, get thy cudgelin readiness. 'Tis the best weapon we have. "

We started to our feet and gripped our staves firmly. And at theprospect of a fight my terror died away. There was no ghostly fear aboutthings of flesh and blood. You can strike a man, but who can strike ashadow?

At that moment, over a rock to our left, appeared the face of an Indian, scarred and painted, a very devil's face to look at. We were seen atlast!

CHAPTER XI. 

CAPTIVE. 

As soon as the Indian's face appeared above the rock Pharaoh and Iinstinctively moved towards him, whereupon he disappeared again with asudden sharp cry, which was immediately answered from above. 

"Now, we shall have the whole pack upon us, " said my companion. 

In this prediction he was right, for within a moment the whole body oftwelve Indians had surrounded us, and stood gazing at us with faces inwhich I looked in vain for any sign of compassion at our forlorn state. Behind them came the monk, still clad in his shroud-like cowl, andmoving with silent steps as if he were a ghost rather than a living man. But as he drew near to where we stood he threw back the hood from hishead, and then we saw his face for the first time. 

I will describe this man to you, because he was not only the mostremarkable but also the most relentlessly cruel man that I have evercome across in my life. As for his name, which we learnt ere long, itwas Bartolomeo de los Rios, and his one aim and passion was the hunting, torturing, and burning of heretics. He had the faculties of asleuth-hound and the instincts of a serpent, and when he had once sethis heart on hunting a man to his death, it was only by God's mercy thatthat man escaped. 

Nevertheless this man as he stood before us, looking steadily upon usfrom under his cowl, did not seem so fearful a monster of cruelty as weafterwards knew him to be. We saw simply a thin, dark-faced monk, whoseface was pale as parchment, and whose eyes were extraordinarily brightand keen. The lines and furrows on his brow and cheeks seemed to tellof pain or thought, and his tightly-pursed, thin lips betokened firmnessand resolution. I think he could have stood calmly by while his ownfather was being tortured and have changed no muscle of his face. Thushe was an object of much greater fear than the Indians, who werecertainly horrible enough to frighten anybody that had never seen thembefore. 

We stood gazing at the monk and his Indians for a moment ere either ofus spoke. The Indians seemed to wait instructions from the monk, andlooked toward him with eager eyes. As for Pharaoh and myself, we waitedto see what would happen. I think we both realized that fortune hadsuddenly deserted us, but nevertheless we kept a firm grip on ourcudgels, and were both resolved to use them if necessary. 

The monk spoke. His voice was low, sweet and gentle--there was naught ofcruelty in it. 

"Greeting, my children, " said he, addressing us. "Be not afraid. Thereshall no harm come to you. "

"It will be ill for the man who threatens us with any, " answered Pharaohin Spanish. "We are travelers, and have no mind to be disturbed. "

"You travel by strange paths, " said the monk. "To what part of thecountry are you going?"

"To Acapulco, " answered Pharaoh, adding to me, in English, "there is noharm in telling him that. "

"There is a good road from Oaxaca to Acapulco, " said the monk. "Why notfollow it?"

"We are minded to take our own way, " said Pharaoh doggedly. 

"You Englishmen are fond of that, " observed the monk with a strangesmile. 

"Who says we are English?" asked Pharaoh. 

"Your Spanish is proof of that. "

"I am from Catalonia, " said Pharaoh. "We do not speak pure Castilianthere. "

"And your companion? Is he, too, from Catalonia, or is he dumb?"

To that Pharaoh answered nothing. The monk turned his bright eyes on me. 

"What is your business here?" he said, in very good English. "If youcannot speak to me in my tongue, I must talk with you in yours. "

"Answer him, " said Pharaoh. "There is no use in further concealment. "

"I see no reason why I should answer you, master, " said I, feelingsomewhat nettled at the man's peremptory tone. "What right have you tostop us in this fashion?"

He smiled again, if that could be called a smile which was simply asudden flash of the eyes and a tightening of the thin lips, and lookedround at his Indians. 

"The right of force, " said he quietly. "You are two--we are many. "

"Two Englishmen are worth twenty Spanish devils, " said I sulkily. 

"If it is to come to fighting, " said Pharaoh, gripping his cudgel. 

The monk said a word in a low tone. The Indians on the instant raisedtheir bows and drew their arrows to the full extent of the string. Thetips pointed dead upon us. 

"Englishmen, " said the monk, "look at those arrows. Every one of them istipped with poison. If you move I give the word, and those arrows willfind a resting place in you. Let them but touch your arms, yourshoulders, inflicting but a scratch, in a few seconds you will be as onethat is paralyzed, in a few minutes you will lie dead. "

The man's words were gentle enough, but somehow his low, sweet voicemade my blood run cold. Why did cruelty veil itself in such a honeyedtone?

"What is it you want of us, master?" asked Pharaoh presently. 

"Your names and business. "

"That is easily answered. This gentleman is one Master Humphrey Salkeld, of Yorkshire in England, who hath many powerful friends at court; as forme, I am a sailor, and my name is Pharaoh Nanjulian, of Marazion inCornwall. As for our business, we are shipwrecked mariners, or as good, and our hope is to find an English vessel at Acapulco and so returnhome. If you be a Christian you will help us. "

"Christians help only Christians. I fear ye are Lutherans, enemies ofGod. "

"That we are not, " answered Pharaoh stoutly. "I will say my Paternosterin English with anybody, and my Belief too, for that matter. "

The monk sighed. Perhaps he was disappointed to find that Pharaoh had somuch knowledge. 

"And you?" he said, turning to me. 

"I am a Christian, " I answered, surlily enough, for I did not like thisexamination. 

"We are both Christians, master, " said Pharaoh. "Maybe we think not asyou do on some points, but 'tis naught. So help us of your charity, andassist us to get out of this country to our own, and we will say aPaternoster for you night and morning. "

"Verily, " answered the monk, "you speak fairly. I will help you. Youshall go with me to Mexico, and there we will see what ships there areat Vera Cruz. "

"We would rather push forward to Acapulco, " answered Pharaoh. "There aremore likely to be English ships there. "

"English ships have gone there little during recent years, and you willfind none now, " said the monk. 

"For all that we would rather take our chance there, " said Pharaoh. 

"It will be better for you to accompany me to Mexico. Vera Cruz is closeat hand. And now, as the day waxes late, we will proceed. "

Now, there was no use in further argument, for the monk had everyadvantage of us, and was clearly minded to have us accompany him atwhatever cost. Therefore we had to yield ourselves to his will but neverdid men give in with worse grace or heavier hearts than we. 

"God help us!" said Pharaoh. "We are going into the very jaws of deathin going to Mexico. We shall meet Nunez there, and even if we do not, weshall be handed over to the Inquisitors. But God's will be done. Moreover, while there is life there is hope. We may pull through yet. "

So we set out, the monk going first and taking no further notice of usfor some time. He would walk for hours as if absorbed in his ownthoughts, and again for a long stretch of time he would read his book orcount his beads, but to us he said little. He walked in the midst of theIndians, who for their part were kind and considerate to us, andindulged in no cruelties. Indeed, during our journey to the City ofMexico we had no reason to complain of discomfort or poor fare, for wehad all that men can require, and were well treated, save that at nightthey guarded us more closely than we liked. But as to food and drink, wewere abundantly served, and so began to wax fat, in spite of ouranxiety. 

There was no restriction placed upon our tongues at this time, andtherefore Pharaoh and I talked freely whenever we were out of hearing ofthe monk. As for our conversation, it was all of one thing--the prospectthat awaited us in Mexico. 

"What will come of this venture, Pharaoh?" I asked him one day as wedrew near our destination. "Shall we come off with whole skins, orwhat?"

"It will be well if we come off with our lives, master. I have beenthinking things over to-day, and I make no doubt that this monk willhand us over to the Inquisition. Put no trust in what he says aboutfinding us a ship at Vera Cruz. The only ship he will find us will be adungeon in some of their prisons. Well, now, what are our chances whenwe fall into the hands of these fellows?"

"Nay, very small I should say. I am well-nigh resigned to anything. Nevertheless, Pharaoh, I shall make a fight for it. "

"It may not come to fighting. Can you say the Paternoster, the AveMaria, and the Creed?"

"I can say two of them, and I can learn the third. But what differencedoes that make?"

"All the difference 'twixt burning at the stake and wearing a San-benitoin a monastery for a year or two. Now, if we are burnt there is an endof us, but if they put us into a monastery with a San-benito on ourbacks we shall still have a chance of life, and shall be poor Englishmenif we do not take it. "

Thus we talked, striving to comfort ourselves, until at the end of thefourth day we were brought by our captors to the City of Mexico. 

CHAPTER XII. 

MORE CRUEL THAN WILD BEASTS. 

There are times when, looking round these fair lands of Beechcot, andthinking on the quiet and prosperous life which I have spent in theirmidst these many years, I fall to wondering whether those dark days inMexico were real or only a dream. It seems to me, sometimes, that allwhich then happened to me and to my companion, Pharaoh Nanjulian, musthave been but a dream and naught else, so horrible were the crueltiesand indignities practiced upon us. You could hardly bring yourselves tobelieve, you who have lived quiet, stay-at-home lives, how mercilesswere the men into whose hands we fell, and if I did but tell youone-tenth of the malignity which they displayed towards us, you wouldnot wonder that I sometimes feel inclined to wonder if my memories ofthat most unhappy time are not dreams rather than realities. But I knowwell that there is nothing unreal about them, for I bear on my bodycertain marks which came there from the rack and the pincers, and thereare moments when I seem to endure my agony over again, and the sweatdrops from my brow as I think of it. 

We were led into the City of Mexico through the gate of St. Catherine, and were thence marched forward to the Placa del Marquese, close by themarket-place. There we were soon surrounded by a throng of folks, whoseemed not unkindly disposed towards us. Some, indeed, brought us foodfrom their houses, and others drink; one man handed Pharaoh Nanjulian acoat, a noble-looking lady, closely wrapped in her mantilla, gave memoney, hurrying away ere I could refuse the gift. I suppose we looked sowoe-begone and vagabondish in our rags and tatters, that the hearts ofthese people melted towards us. Nevertheless it was plain to see that wewere prisoners, and that the monk had no notion of putting us in the wayof getting a ship. 

Now, as we stood there in the Placa, closely guarded by the Indians, themonk having disappeared for the moment, who should come up to us butthat polite gentleman, Captain Manuel Nunez, arrayed in very bravefashion and smiling his cruel smile as usual. He pushed his way throughthe throng, folded his arms, and stood smiling upon us. 

"So, Master Salkeld, " he said, "you have fallen into the tiger's denafter all. Certainly what was born to be burned will never be drowned. Ilooked to see you again, Senor. "

"We shall possibly meet yet once again, " said I. "And it may be whereyou and I are on level terms, Captain Nunez. If that time should evercome, ask God to have mercy upon you, for rest assured that I shallhave none. "

"Brave words, Senor, brave words! I wish it were possible that you mighthave the chance to make them good. But that I am afraid you never willhave. You are safely caged. "

Then he began to abuse us to the people, bidding them look upon us forEnglish dogs, Lutherans, enemies of God, sweepings of the English sinkof iniquity, for whom neither rack, thumb-screw, nor stake wassufficient reward. Me he denounced to the people as a runaway criminal, describing me in such terms as made my blood boil within me, and myhands itch to take him by the neck and crush the life out of his wickedheart. 

"You are a liar and a knave, " said I and then for the moment forgettingmy dignity as an English gentleman I spat full in his face. Bethinkyou--my hands were tied behind me, and not free to use. Otherwise I hadnot done it. 

Now at this insult his face turned deathly white and then flushed abright red, and there came into his eyes a gleam which meant murder, andplucking forth his rapier he would certainly have slain me there andthen, had not the monk returned at that instant and prevented his furyfrom wreaking itself upon me. At this interference he grew still morefurious, and well-nigh foamed at the mouth, swearing by all the saintsin his calendar that he would slay me where I stood. But at a word fromthe monk he smiled a grim, meaning smile, and thrusting back his rapierinto its sheath turned away from us with a face full of hate andmalignity. 

We were now taken away to a hospital, where we found otherEnglishmen--some sailors that had been captured by the Spaniards at sea, and others merchants who had been taken while prosecuting their tradein various ports in that part of the world. Some of these men had beenin captivity for many months, and they explained to us that they werebeing kept for a new sitting of the Inquisition, at which, they said, weshould all be examined and possibly tortured, with a view to extractingfrom us confessions that would doom us to the fire. So under thisprospect we sat down to wait, and for several weeks remained in strictcaptivity, having enough to eat, but being terribly cast down by theknowledge of what awaited us. 

It appeared from such information as we could obtain that theInquisitors were at that time absent from the city, conductingexaminations in another part of the country, and that when they returnedour cases would be gone into. There had been no Auto-de-fe, or publicburning of heretics for a year or two, and it seemed only too probablefrom what we now heard that one was meditated for the coming GoodFriday. Positive information on this point, however, we could not thenget; therefore we remained in our captivity, alternately hopeful anddespondent, praying God either to release us from our desperatesituation or to give us strength to endure whatever might be in storefor us. 

About the beginning of Lent, in the year 1579, the Inquisitors returnedto the City of Mexico, and it immediately began to be whispered amongstus that the examinations were shortly to begin. We soon found that thiswas the truth, and the first intimation of it came to us in highlyunpleasant form. On Ash Wednesday we were removed from the hospital inwhich we had been confined until then, and were taken through the cityto certain cells or dungeons, in which we were separately placed, sothat from that time forward we saw nothing of each other, and thus hadno companion to turn to for sympathy when our need was sorest. But asGod would have it, it befell to Pharaoh Nanjulian and to me, that as wewere being led across the market-square by our guards, there came up tous the old gentleman whom we had saved from highwaymen on the road toOaxaca. He seemed vastly surprised to find us in that unhappy condition, and insisted with some slight show of authority on our guards allowinghim to speak with us. 

"Surely, " said he, "ye are the two brave men who preserved me and mydaughter from those cut-throat villains as we traveled to Oaxaca. Howcame ye in this company?"

"Sir, " said Pharaoh, "that is what we do not know ourselves. We are twoinoffensive Englishmen, brought into this country against our wills, andwishing or intending no harm to any man, but only anxious to find a shipthat will carry us back to our own land. Here we are treated likemalefactors and criminals, and yet we have broken no law that we knowof, nor are we brought before any judge to hear what our jailer hathagainst us. If you indeed are grateful for what we did for you help usto our liberty. "

"I am grateful, friend, " answered the old man, "and will do what I canfor you. But tell me your story. "

So we told him all that had happened to us from the time of our leavingEngland, and mentioning more particularly the treacheries practiced uponus by Captain Nunez and Frey Bartolomeo, at the mention of whose nameshe shook his head. 

"I am sorry indeed for you, " said he when we made an end, "and the moreso because ye are in a very grievous plight. But now, keep up yourhearts, for I have some influence with the Chief Inquisitor, and itshall be exerted on your behalf. 'Tis truly a pity that ye areEnglishmen, but I hope ye are Christians. "

"Christians we are, " said Pharaoh, "and will say our Paternoster andCredo with any man. "

"'Tis well, and therefore keep up your hearts, I say. I will see to thismatter at once. "

This meeting and the cheerful words spoken to us by the old man didsomewhat revive our hopes, more especially when we heard from our guardsthat he was a person of some distinction in that city. So we parted, Pharaoh and I, and were prisoned in solitary dungeons. 

For the next three or four weeks I saw no man save my jailers, who fedme chiefly on bread and water, or on maize, crushed and boiled, whichfood did speedily bring me to a low and miserable condition. Indeed, what the noisomeness of my cell and the loneliness of my state failed todo the bad food speedily accomplished, so that within a month of myimprisonment I became a weak and nerveless creature, and was ready toweep at a rough word. 

About three weeks before Easter I was taken before the Inquisitors andput to the question. Now, I had expected and dreaded this ordeal, andwas not in over good a state to face it when at last it came upon me. Nevertheless I made shift to summon my courage so that I might show abold front to my oppressors. 

The Inquisitors sat in a small apartment hung round with black andlighted by torches, and there was that in their appearance which wascalculated to strike terror into the stoutest heart. Behind a table, setupon a dais, sat the Chief Inquisitor, with his assistant on one side ofhim and his secretary on the other. They were all robed in black, andtheir thin, ascetic faces looking out from the dark recesses of theircowls, had in them neither mercy nor pity, nor indeed aught butmerciless resolution. There were other robed and cowled figures in theroom, but I noticed none of them particularly save the monk Bartolomeo, who stood there ready to make accusation against me. 

There was an interpreter in the apartment, a half-breed named RobertSweeting, whose name I desire to put on record, because he did me akindness at the risk of his own life. To this man the Inquisitorsaddressed their questions, and through him I answered them to the bestof my ability. 

They set out by asking me the full particulars of my presence in Mexico, which questions I replied to with very great delight, as they affordedme an opportunity of having my say as to Captain Manuel Nunez and hisfellow-villain Frey Bartolomeo, whom I did not spare, though he stood byand heard me with an unmoved countenance. Indeed, I spake so plainlyconcerning him that the Chief Inquisitor stopped me. 

"It is not seemly, " said he, "to speak in disrespectful terms of menvowed to sacred offices. "

To this I answered that I had been brought up from my birth to treat mypastors and teachers with respect and reverence, but that I could feelnone for a man who had abused his sacred office by deceiving unfortunatemen. 

Then they began to examine me as to my faith, and commanded me to saythe Paternoster, Ave Maria, and the Creed in Latin, which, rubbing upsuch Latin as I remembered from Mr. Timotheus Herrick's instructions, Imade difficult shift to do, informing them at the same time that I couldsay all these things much more readily in English. And this part of myexamination being over, and my judges seeming satisfied, I began tobreathe more freely, hoping that all might end well. 

But now they began to examine me on more particular and nicer points, and it was plain to me that if I did but make a slip they would visit itupon my body. For they demanded first, whether I believed or not thatany bread or wine remained in the paten or in the chalice after theconsecration, and second, whether or not the bread and the wine were notactually the very body and blood of our Lord. To have answered "No" tothese questions would have insured my death, therefore I cudgeled mybrains for a fitting reply to them, well knowing what depended upon it. And bethinking me of the articles and teachings of my own church, I madeanswer that I was no scholar or theologian, but a simple countrygentleman that had left subtle points to priests and schoolmen, and hadalways held what they taught me, namely, that our blessed Lord is indeedverily and truly present in the sacrament of His body and blood. Thisanswer seemed to satisfy them, but presently they asked me if I did notfollow the teachings of Doctor Martin Luther. I cheerfully replied tothat, that I knew naught about Doctor Luther, and had never heard hisname mentioned until I came into Mexico; which was plain truth, for wewere out of the world at Beechcot, and knew naught of controversies. Then they would have me to tell them what I had been taught to believein England, to which I answered that I had never been taught any otherdoctrine than that to which I had already testified, and in which I didfirmly and truly believe as a good Christian man, hoping for salvationin the Christian faith. 

"We must have a more satisfactory answer than that, " said the ChiefInquisitor, "otherwise we must try what a sterner method will do withyou. "

"Sir, " said I, "other answer I cannot give you, for I have already toldyou the truth. As for my sins against God I heartily ask Hisforgiveness, and also yours if I have offended your laws in any way; butI beseech you to remember that I came into your country against my ownwill, and have never done aught against its laws or against youwittingly. Therefore, I beseech you to have Christian mercy upon mydefenseless condition. "

But they had none, and that night I was put upon the rack, and cruellytortured by Frey Bartolomeo and his fellows, in the hope that I shouldconfess something against myself. However, God giving me strength, Isaid naught, and was preserved through that awful torment, the memory ofwhich is strong in my mind even after all these years. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE AUTO-DA-FE. 

About the beginning of Holy Week the Inquisitors caused to be erected agreat scaffold against the large church in the main square, and from itthey proclaimed, with much beating of drums and blaring of trumpets, that whoever should come there upon Good Friday should have made knownto them the most just judgments of the Holy Inquisition upon the Englishheretics, Lutherans, and should, moreover, see the same put intoimmediate execution. And so now we were face to face with whatever finalcruelty these devils in human shape might devise upon us, who werehelpless and defenseless in their hands. 

There was little rest for any of us on the night preceding thejudgments, for there came to each of us officers and Familiars of theInquisition, tormenting us with gibes and sneers, and bringing us theSan-benitos in which we were to appear in the great square next morning. It was already turning gray in the east when two of these men entered mydungeon, where I lay still stiff and bruised because of the rackingwhich I had undergone a few days before. They woke me rudely and withoutconsideration, caring naught for the woes I had already suffered or thesorrow I was that day to undergo. 

"Wake, English dog, Lutheran, enemy of God!" cried one. "Wake and robethyself to meet thy master the devil. Truly the saints will rejoice tosee the sight provided for them this day. "

Then they hustled me from my straw pallet and bade me dress in theSan-benito, which was a garment of yellow cotton having divers devicespainted upon it. And this done they took me out into the courtyard ofthe prison, and there for the first time for some weeks I met PharaohNanjulian. It was easy to see, even in the uncertain light of the earlymorning, that he had undergone the same torments which they had appliedto me. His face was pinched and thin with suffering, and his great frameseemed to have been crushed and bruised until it had shrunk in heightand girth. Yet he bore himself with composure and bravery, and I felt atonce that, however the rest of us behaved, he at least would notdisgrace the name of England. 

"Heart up, master!" quoth he, as soon as we came within speakingdistance of each other. "Heart up! Let us show ourselves brave men thisday. I do not think they can torment us more than they have alreadydone. And what if they kill us? We must all die. "

"Did they torture you badly, Pharaoh?" I asked, admiring his fortitude. 

He shook his head and smiled grimly. 

"So badly, master, that it seemed as if every bone in my body wasbroken and every sinew cracked. But a man may undergo a deal ofsuffering and yet live. So let us quit us like men and be strong. Fortruly, though we be in the hands of these devils at present, God is nearus, and will maybe be nearer ere the day is done. "

Then our custodians separated us again, and for a couple of hours theyexercised us in the prison yard, showing us in what order we shouldproceed to the scaffold, and admonishing us as to our behavior when wehad come there. And after that was over, it being broad daylight, theygave us breakfast, which was a cup of wine with a piece of bread friedin honey, and so we were ready for the ordeal. 

There were some sixty to seventy prisoners in all, of all nationalities, a considerable number being Englishmen, and all of us were dressed inthose hideous San-benitos, which make the most shameful garb that a mancan wear. Being drawn up in single file, our guards fastened a halterround the neck of each prisoner, and afterwards gave to each of us agreen wax candle, which we carried, unlighted, in the right hand. TwoSpaniards, well armed, guarded each of us, and so the procession beingarranged, the great doors were thrown open and we were led forth intothe square. 

The crowd in the square was so thick that the guards had much ado tofree a passage through it; but ere long we came to the scaffold, andwere conducted upon it, seating ourselves on long rows of chairs placedin full sight of the people. We had not long occupied this shamefulposition when the Viceroy and his officers came upon the scaffold byanother flight of steps, closely followed by the Inquisitors, who tookthe chief places and made much show of their authority. Then threehundred friars, wearing the garb of their various orders, black, white, gray, and brown, were marshaled to their places, and all was ready forthe judgments. 

Now, we were so sorely exercised in our minds at that time because ofthe agony of sitting there and wondering when our turn would come andwhat our fate would be, that I have utterly forgotten many of the namesand sentences of my unfortunate companions. Some still come back to me, because their sentences were heavier than those which have escaped mymemory. 

The manner of judgment was after this fashion. The clerk to theInquisitors calling out our names in a loud voice, we were commanded tostand up in our places and hear the judgment of the Holy Office upon us. 

Thomas White, Cornelius Johnson, Peter Brown, Henry More, all Englishmenshipwrecked on those inhospitable coasts or captured at sea, werecondemned to three hundred lashes on horseback, and to serve in thegalleys for ten years. 

William Collier, Thomas Ford, John Page, two hundred lashes and eightyears in the galleys. 

Stephen Brown and Nicholas Peterson, a Dutchman, one hundred lashes andsix years in the galleys. 

Then came some forty or fifty men whose names I have forgotten, who werecondemned to a lesser number of lashes and less servitude in thegalleys, and after them some four or five who were adjudged to serve inmonasteries for various terms of years, wearing their San-benitos allthe time. 

And then, after two or three hours of weary waiting, for they dideverything with exceeding tediousness and much ceremony, they calledupon Pharaoh Nanjulian and myself, and we stood up together to receivesentence. And then we suddenly knew that God had not deserted us, forthe sentence was a lighter one than any that we had heard passed. Wewere to serve two years in the galleys, submitting ourselves to thechaplain for admonition and instruction. So that was over and we couldbreathe freely again. 

Nevertheless the horrible work of that day was far from over, for it washardly begun. The torments, the murders, were yet to come. 

William Moor, John Wood, and Hans Schewitzer, a German Lutheran, werebrought up for sentence and condemned, being pestilent and naughtyheretics, to be burned to ashes. 

They lost no time, these villainous Spaniards, in carrying out thissentence. In front of the scaffold stood three stout iron posts, firmlysunk in the ground, with fagots already piled about them, and to thesethe unfortunate men were speedily bound, amidst the silence of the crowdand the cries of the monks and Familiars, who pressed upon theirvictims, bidding them repent and recant ere they were lost forever. Butto these murdering villains the three men answered naught, and presentlyit was all over with them, and there was one more crime recorded againstSpain. 

Then those of us who had been sentenced to so many lashes were led downfrom the scaffold and placed upon horses, being stripped to the waist, and having by them, every man, an executioner armed with a whip. Such ofus as had escaped this sentence were arranged in pairs behind, with ourhalters still round our necks and our guards on either side of us. Before the men who were to be whipped marched two criers, crying "Beholdthese English dogs, Lutherans, enemies of God, " and at intervals cameFamiliars, such as Frey Bartolomeo, admonishing the executioners to layon and spare not. Then the procession started, and was conducted by thecriers through all the principal streets back to the great square, andat every few steps the executioners laid on with their whips, fetchingblood at every stroke, so that to any man having aught of mercy andcompassion within him the spectacle was horrible and nauseating, thoughto the Familiars and Inquisitors it seemed delightful enough. 

Now, as we returned to the great square, this bloody work being over, the throng pressed upon us so closely that for some few moments we wereunable to move, and while we stood there waiting for what would happennext, there came to our side Captain Manuel Nunez, his evil eyes mockingand sneering at us. 

"So, Master Salkeld, " said he, "it would seem that you have notaltogether escaped. Our Holy Office is merciful, Master Salkeld, yea, sadly too merciful for my liking. But there are those of us, who knownot any mercy for Englishmen and heretics, as you shall find ere long, both of you. "

With that he vanished in the crowd, and presently Pharaoh and I were ledback to prison, wondering what his last words meant. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

ON BOARD THE GALLEY. 

Being led back to the prison, Pharaoh and I found to our unspeakable joyand astonishment that we were to be placed in one cell and not separatedas heretofore. This consideration on the part of our jailers wasexceedingly pleasant to us, because it afforded us the opportunity ofconversing one with the other. Therefore, in spite of our bruises andstrains, caused by the rack and not yet forgotten, and of the sad sightswhich we had that day seen, we made an effort to pluck up our spirits, and to be cheerful and even hopeful. 

We were further assisted in this laudable desire by a visit from the oldgentleman whom we had rescued from highwaymen on the road to Oaxaca. About seven o'clock that evening he was admitted to our cell, and leftalone with us. This latter fact at once assured us that our friend was aman of rank and position, otherwise he would not have been permitted tosee and speak with us, save in the presence of witnesses. 

"I trust all is well with you, friends, " said he, as he entered ourpresence, and set down a basket which the jailer had carried to thedoor. "I come to see you at a sad time, doubtless, but 'tis indeed withfeelings of friendship. "

"We have so few friends in this country, Senor, " answered Pharaoh, "thatwe are glad to see any of them. Nay, indeed, so far as we know, yourhonor is the only friend we have. Therefore, Senor, you are somethingmore than welcome. "

Now the jailer being gone, the old gentleman took our hands in his own, and was like to weep over us, at which we marveled, for we did not knowthat his gratitude was so hearty, seeing that we had done such a smallthing for him. 

"Alas, friends, " said he. "I grieve for you more than I can say, for Ihate and abominate these murderous Inquisitors, whose hearts are filledwith naught but torment and murder. Nevertheless I have saved yousomewhat, for it was through my efforts and bribes that you came offwith such light sentences. "

"I thought we had your honor to thank for that, " said Pharaoh. "Aye, 'tis well to have a friend at court when need arises. "

"I labored hard, " said the old gentleman, "to secure your freedom, butthese bloody-minded Inquisitors are without bowels of mercy, and ye arefortunate to have escaped death or torture. But now I have brought you alittle matter of wine and fruit, so fall-to and refresh yourselves, andafter that we will talk of what is to come. "

So he unpacked his basket and set food and wine and delightful fruitbefore us, and we ate and drank and were vastly comforted thereby, forour commons during the past week or two had been of the very shortest. And when we had thus refreshed ourselves, we began to discuss oursituation anew. 

"That you have escaped with your lives and without the torture of thelash, " said our friend, "is due to my continued exertions on yourbehalf. But now, gentlemen, I am powerless to do more for you. "

Then we once more thanked him for doing so much, saying that we shouldalways hold his kindness in remembrance, and should ever pray for hishappiness and prosperity. 

"And if, " continued I, "your honor can suggest any means by which we canescape from these galleys and regain our own country, we shall befurther beholden to you. For, indeed, we have friends in England whomust be anxious about us, if they be not already in despair of everseeing us again. "

"I fear there is small chance of your escape, " said he, shaking hishead. "Men that are chained to the oar cannot well escape. I pray Godthat you may survive your two years of that work--it is not all thatdo. "

"Sir, " said Pharaoh, "do you know where we shall be taken?"

"Nay, " answered he, "that I cannot say. Most men who lie under yoursentence are shipped to Spain, and are there placed in the galleys. Thesame fate is probably in store for you. "

"God help us if they take us to Spain!" said Pharaoh. "We shall have togo through it all over again. "

However, it seemed almost certain that this would be our fate, and asnothing that we could say or do could alter it, there was naught for itbut to submit ourselves with such cheerfulness as we could muster. Buthere the old Senor gave us some additional comfort, for it seemed thathis special purpose in coming to us that night was to give us the namesof friends of his in certain towns and ports of Spain, to whom we mightapply in case of our being in their neighborhood. 

"You are something more than likely to be finally dismissed at Cadiz orat Seville, " said he, "and it will be none the worse if you know whereto turn for a friend;" and with that he gave us the names of certainSpanish gentlemen of rank, his friends, assuring us that they would helpus to escape to England. And these names he made us learn by heart, andthen, having no more time to spend with us, he bade us farewell, and wesaw him no more. But in him we found one Spaniard at least who hated thehorrible practices of the Inquisitors, and had a heart within him whichwas not insensible to the woes of others. 

After we had remained in the prison five days longer, we were onemorning brought forth and stripped of our San-benitos and given roughclothing suited to galley slaves. And that being done we were mounted onstout horses, in company with the other prisoners who had been sentencedto serve in the galleys, and being guarded by a great number ofsoldiers, well armed, we were sent off across country to the port ofAcapulco. But ere we left Mexico every man of us had fastened to hisleft wrist and ankle a heavily-weighted chain, which would have made itimpossible for us to attempt an escape even if we could have eluded thevigilance of our escort. 

We were somewhat surprised to find that our first destination wasAcapulco, for we had fancied that we should be sent to Vera Cruz, whichis much nearer to the city of Mexico, and from which we expected to besent across seas to Spain. We found, however, that at Acapulco there layat that time a great treasure-galleon, the Santa Filomena, which theSpaniards were minded to take home by way of the Pacific islands andAfrica, it being their belief that by this route there would be lesschance of meeting Hawkins, or Drake, or Frobisher, or any of the greatEnglish sea-captains, of whom they were mortally afraid. In thisgalleon, then, we were to be shipped, with the prospect of a long andtedious voyage, which, according to Pharaoh's calculations, might coverthe best part of a year even with fair winds. 

Our overland journey to Acapulco was not wholly unpleasant, for ourguards being soldiers, and free from the encouragement of thosemurderous fanatics the Inquisitors and Familiars, treated us with asmuch consideration as was possible, and forbore to taunt us with ourmisfortunes. Moreover, we were frequently lodged for the night in theneighborhood of some convent or monastery, and then we did exceedingwell, the friars feeding us with their best, and compassionating us forour many sorrows. And at that time it was plain to us that theInquisition was heartily hated by the friars--black, white, andgray, --and met with no favor from any but such as had long sinceforgotten all that they had ever known of mercy and compassion. 

Having reached Acapulco, after many days' journeying over mountains andplains, we were immediately conveyed on board the Santa Filomena, whichwas a great galleon of full rig, having a high poop and a double bank ofoars, and there our chains were knocked off by the armorer. This relief, however, did not long benefit us, for we were presently conducted belowto a great deck filled with long wooden benches, parallel with themighty oars which came through the ports. To one of these benchesPharaoh and I were immediately chained and padlocked, our companionssuffering a like treatment. In another part of the deck the benches werefilled by negroes, stark naked, whose backs and shoulders were coveredby scars, and who yelled and grinned at us like fiends or madmen. 

"God help us!" said Pharaoh; "they will not release us from thesebenches till we make Seville or Cadiz. "

And at that awful prospect I half-regretted that we had not died inMexico. For simply to think of being chained to the oar all those wearymonths amidst that foul and unclean mass of humanity, sleeping where welabored, and eating amidst dirt and filth, was more than I couldstomach, and at that moment black despair seemed to settle upon myheart. But Pharaoh once more came to my aid and strove to cheer me. 

"Heart up, master!" said he. "All is not yet over. We are going throughsore trials, but what then? Are we not Englishmen? At any rate let usshow a stern front to these villains. Cowards we will never be. "

CHAPTER XV. 

NUNEZ IN A NEW GUISE. 

The second day after our arrival at Acapulco, we knew by the hurry andscurry on board our vessel that preparations were being made forsailing. Our deck was now full, and every oar was fully manned with itscomplement of slaves or captives. Of these the majority were blacks, whose misfortunes had transformed them into nothing better than wildanimals; but there were still a large number of whites, and amongst themthirty to forty of our own countrymen. Every man was chained to hisbench, and it was evident that there was no intention of releasing usuntil our voyage came to an end. Thus amongst our miserable company weremany who hung their heads in deep dejection, and envied the three menwho had met death by the flames in the great square of Mexico. 

Towards the evening of that day, as I was sitting lost in sad thoughts, I looked up and saw standing at my side two figures, which I had givenanything rather than set eyes upon. One was that of Captain ManuelNunez, the other the black-robed form of Frey Bartolomeo. They stoodregarding me steadfastly: the monk calm and quiet, the sailor with hisusual cold smile faintly curling about the eyes and mouth. 

"So, Master Salkeld, " said Nunez, "we meet again. You are doubtless onyour way home to England to take vengeance on your cousin, MasterStapleton. "

I looked at him steadfastly. I was not going to be cowed by him, defenseless as I was. 

"That may be, Senor, " said I. "It is a long way to England by the roadwe are taking, but I shall reach it if God wills that it should be so. "

"You do well to make that proviso, " said he. "For God gives His power tomen, and at this moment I, as master of this vessel, and FreyBartolomeo, as its chaplain, are his viceregents. Wherefore, MasterSalkeld, I think your chances are not good. "

"We are in God's hands, " said I; though indeed my heart turned faint andsick to think that these wretches had us in their power. 

"At present, good Master Salkeld, you are in mine, " he answered, smilingmockingly upon me. "But then you know what a kind and considerate host Iam. You did admit that, when I carried you across the Atlantic. Still, Master Salkeld, things are somewhat altered between us. I am not nowpaid to carry you to Mexico and get rid of you. Also, since then youhave spat in my face. Ah, you remember that, do you? Dog, you shallremember it every day of your life! I will not kill you now, as Imight, but I will kill you by inches, and you shall die at last at yourbench and lie there to rot. That is the fate of the dog who spits in theface of a Spanish gentleman. "

So he turned away, but the man sitting next me put out his hand andplucked the monk's cloak, bidding him remember that he had promised tofind him a ship for England, and begging him to keep his plighted word. But Frey Bartolomeo shook him off. 

"Thou art a heretic, " he said. "With heretics we keep no faith. To thyoar, Lutheran!"

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE FLAG OF ENGLAND. 

And now our cup of misery seemed full indeed. We were friendless andcaptive, and we had for our jailers two of the most inhuman beings thatever lived to disgrace the earth, and both of them hated us with anexceeding bitter hatred; one because I had spat in his face, the otherbecause we had escaped the fire. Moreover, we were chained to an oar ina vessel which was sailing over I know not how many thousands of milesof water, in latitudes where it was not likely we should fall in withany ship that could rescue us. Verily there seemed before us nothing buthorror and death!

And truly our lot was hard. Hour upon hour we tugged at the oar. Wherewe toiled there we slept, amongst the shrieks, sobs, groans, andheart-rending lamentations of our fellow-captives. Up and down thegangways that divided us walked stalwart Spaniards, armed with heavywhips, which they scarcely ever ceased from laying about our bareshoulders. Our food was such as is given to pigs in England--coarsemaize or meal, soaked in cold water, with bread of the blackest andhardest description. The heat burned us to madness; the cold night-windsblew in upon us; the salt-spray dashing through the open ports found theraw places in our wounds and stung us as if with fire. Verily, we werein hell! Ere many days had gone by a man dropped and died at his post. They let him hang there by his chains till another day had gone past, then they knocked off his irons and flung him through the port-hole. Andthere was scarcely a man of us that did not envy him. 

Now that Captain Manuel Nunez had us in his power there was apparentlyno limit to his cruelty. Scarcely a day passed on which he did notdescend the ladder to our deck and vex our souls with some new form oftorture. Sometimes he would take his station near us, and bid theoverseers lay on to us with their whips. Sometimes he would take thewhip himself and beat us about the head and face with it until we becamesenseless. Now and then he would amuse himself by pricking us with hissword or dagger; now and then he would spit in our faces and bespatterus with filth, pouring out upon us every foul and evil name he couldthink of. And when he had worked his will upon us, there would come tous Frey Bartolomeo, cold and cruel, and he would admonish and instructus, and finding that he could get naught out of us, would depart cursingus for Lutherans and dogs. 

These two presently devised a new torture, and put it into operationupon us. They caused the ship's armorer to make an iron brand, bearingthe word "Heretic", and this being heated red, they came down to us andbranded us on back and breast, so that all men, they said, should knowus for what we were. And after that they gave us more lashes, and thendeluged us with salt water, and so left us more dead than alive. 

Now, after I had undergone some weeks of this treatment, I was like tohave lost my senses, for the strength of my body was giving out, and Ifelt myself powerless to resist the continued cruelties and insultswhich were put upon me. Yea, I should certainly have gone mad at thattime if it had not been for my faithful companion, Pharaoh Nanjulian, who did his best to cheer and support me, and got no reward for it butan increase of blows and stripes from Nunez, and venomous curses fromFrey Bartolomeo. 

It was one of Nunez's chief delights at this period to come down uponour deck and goad me into a rage that closely approached madness. Thusafter exposing me to numerous insults, he would ask me what I proposedto do when I reached England again, and what fate I was keeping in storefor my cousin Stapleton. 

"It must afford you the most exquisite delight of which the human mindis capable, Master Salkeld, " he said one day, when he had tormented andplagued me beyond endurance, "to sit here in these pleasant quarters andthink of your cousin at home. He hath doubtless entered upon the familyestates and married the lady whose affections you stole from him, andmaybe he hath by this time told her of the trick he played upon you, andthey laugh at it together. "

And at that I cursed him before God and man and wept bitter tears, for Iwas thoroughly broken, and had no more heart in me than a child. 

"So you are broken at last?" said he, and struck me across the mouthand went away. 

And then I wished to die, for I was indeed broken; but Pharaoh did hisbest to console me and bade me be of good cheer, for we should triumphyet. 

Now the next day, our voyage having then lasted some nine or ten weeks, we were aware of a sail bearing down upon us from the south-east, andbefore long it became evident that this ship was chasing us, whereuponthere was much to-do on board the Santa Filomena, and our overseersurged us to renewed exertions with continual lashing of their whips. Nevertheless, within three hours the ship had overhauled us, and fromour post we saw flying from her mast-head the flag of England. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

FRANCIS DRAKE. 

Now, if you can bring yourself to imagine what he feels like who, havingremained in dire and horrible distress for many weary days, suddenlysees salvation coming to him, you will know what we felt as we gazedthrough the port-hole and saw that noble English ship draw near with theEnglish flag flying at her mast-head. If you have ever been in likeperil yourself you will understand it better. A man condemned to die andsuddenly reprieved; another suddenly released from awful slavery; athird suffering from heavy sorrow and suddenly overwhelmed with goodtidings--any of these will know what we felt. 

"An English ship!" cried Pharaoh. "Thanks be to God--an English ship!"

And straightway there rose from the crowded benches on our deck astrange and marvelous babble of sound. Some burst into tears ofthankfulness and relief, some howled like wild beasts because of theirchains, some cursed and blasphemed because there was small chance of theEnglish ship's folk knowing our condition. Others shouted and yelled forhelp; the men sitting next the port-holes thrust forth their heads andcried loudly across the waters, though the ship was yet a good mileaway. Every man betrayed his emotion and his misery in some way: herethey tugged at the chains which bound them, there they showed theirteeth at the Spaniards, snarling and snapping like dogs chained to astaple in the wall. And then the overseers fell upon us once more, andtheir great hide-whips descended mercilessly upon our shoulders, so thatwe were forced to tug at the oars with redoubled force, and the galleonshot forward again under a storm of yells and cries and loud groans. 

"Yon is an English ship, as I live, " said Pharaoh, as we tugged at ouroar. "And she will overhaul us. Pray God she does not slay a score of usin this rat-trap by her first shot. If she only knew what we know. Listen, master!"

Over the strip of sea that separated us came the dull, heavy roar of acannon-shot. They were firing at us in order to make the Spaniardlay-to. But Captain Manuel Nunez had no intention of acceding to theEnglishman's wishes in that respect, and it was evident that he wascrowding on all sail, and making every possible effort to escape thatterrible ship which overhauled him hand over hand. On deck we heard theSpaniards rushing hither and thither, the mates and boatswain shriekingand yelling orders to the crew, the armorer and the soldiers makingready the ordnance and small arms. Now and then we caught the voice ofNunez, cool and collected as usual, but very fierce and determined; andonce the pale face of Frey Bartolomeo appeared, and we heard himadmonishing the overseers to lay on with their whips. 

"We are like to be flayed alive if this goes on much longer, " mutteredPharaoh as the lash curled about his shoulders again. "Oh, if we werebut free and had some weapon in our hands! Lay on, ye murderousvillains, lay on! Your reign is well-nigh over. Master, hold up a whilelonger. See there!"

Another puff of white smoke burst from the English ship's side, followedby a dull roar, and, immediately after, by a loud crashing andsplintering of the deck above our heads. Then came shrieks, groans, andloud cries of pain. The shot had swept the deck. Fathom by fathom theEnglish ship overhauled us. Through our port-hole we could see her deckswarming with men armed to the teeth. On her poop stood a little knotof men evidently in command, and one of these was directing theboatswain with outstretched arm. 

"I see their plan, " said Pharaoh; "they have seen the oars, and they areminded not to fire upon us again for fear of killing or wounding thecaptives. They are going to lay their ship alongside ours and board us. "

So the ship came nearer and nearer, sailing nearly twice as fast as ourgreat lumbering galleon, and at last we could make out the faces of themen on deck. And suddenly Pharaoh set up a great cry that made everyEnglishman on our deck turn to him with astonishment. 

"'Tis Francis Drake!" he cried. "God be thanked, 'tis Francis Drakehimself! See yonder, lads, there he stands on the poop. Are there anymen here that ever served under Francis Drake? If so, let them look outat yonder captain and speak. "

"'Tis Francis Drake and no other!" cried one. "I know him by the goldband round his scarlet cap. He always wears that at sea. Now may God bepraised for this deliverance. "

But there was much to be done ere our deliverance could be accomplished. Nay, indeed, it seemed as if our cruel jailers were minded to murder usbefore ever help would come, for they proceeded to beat us sounmercifully with their whips that many of us sank down faint andbleeding, and lay like dead men. But the rest of us kept up because ofthe fierce excitement. 

Presently the English ship was within a boat's length of us, and thenshe slowly crashed against our side, the brass muzzles of her guns, insome cases, coming through our ports. Meanwhile the Spaniards had notbeen idle, for their gunners were plying their cannon with all possiblespeed, and the noise and confusion was horrible. But yet never a shotdid the Englishman fire, but their ship closed steadily upon us. Atlast we heard the grappling-irons thrown out and made fast, and knewthat the two ships were locked together, like lions that fasten teethand claws in each other and will not loose their grip till death comes. 

Then began a noise and confusion as if all the devils of hell hadsuddenly been let loose. We heard the shouts of the Englishmen, hoarseand deep, and the shriller cries of the Spaniards, above the roaring ofthe guns. On deck there sounded the wild rush and hurry of feet as thecombatants were driven hither and thither. The overseers had thrown downtheir whips and fled to the upper decks as soon as the English boarded, and now we captives sat breathless and bleeding, listening to the noiseabove us and longing for release, so that we too might join in thefight. 

Suddenly there leapt through one of the ports a brawny Englishman, armednot with sword or pike, but with hammer and chisel, and he was speedilyfollowed by half-a-dozen more, armed in similar fashion. 

"Are there Englishmen here?" roared the first as he tumbled in amongstus. "Speak, lads, if ye be English!"

And at that there went up such a roar as was like to burst open thedeck above us. Men stretched out their hands and arms to these greatEnglish sailors as if they were angels, and prayed them to knock offtheir bonds. So they, staring stupidly at us for a moment, --as isthe manner of Englishmen when they see something which they do notunderstand, --suddenly fell to and knocked away our chains and padlocks, while we wept over them and blessed them as our saviors. And meanwhileothers had handed in pikes and swords and glaives through the ports, andothers were guarding the ladder against the Spaniards, in case any ofthem should come below. But they were too busy on the upper decks tohave even a thought of us, and so we were uninterrupted, and ere longevery man of us was free of his chains. 

"Now, lads!" cried the big man who had first leapt in upon us, "can yefight, or are ye too weak for a brush? If any man thinks he can holdpike or sword, let him pick his weapon and follow me. "

Some of us could fight and some could not. Here and there a man was onlyreleased from his chains to fall upon the deck and die. Others, suddenlymade free, found on striving to rise from the benches that the use oftheir legs was gone. Others again, whose minds had suffered under thoselong months of fiendish torture, were no sooner released than theybecame utterly mad, and fell to laughing and gibbering at theirpreservers. But many of us, weak as we were, felt the strength of tenmen come into our arms, and we seized eagerly upon the weapons offeredto us, and followed the sailors up the gangway with a fierce resolve tocall our late oppressors to a final account. 

On the upper deck the fight was raging furiously. The Spaniards, furiousand desperate, were massed together in a solid body, keeping back theEnglishmen by sheer skill. Already between the gangways and the bulwarkslay a great heap of dead and dying. High above the combatants on thepoop stood Nunez, his pale face set and drawn, watching the progress ofthe fight with gleaming eyes and compressed lips. From the tops thesharp-shooters were pouring showers of arrows into the English ship, butthe guns had ceased, and the gunners lay dead beside them. 

We dashed on deck with a great cry, and for an instant the whole body ofcombatants turned and looked at us. A strange and awful sight we mustneeds have presented at that moment. There was scarcely a rag upon us, our hair was long and unkempt, our shoulders were torn and bleeding fromthe effects of the lashes lately laid on them, and our entire aspectmust have resembled that of wild beasts rather than of men. I saw Nunezturn paler as he caught sight of us, and heard the English storm ofexecration burst forth over the noise and confusion of the fight. Thenwe fell upon the Spaniards from behind, and after that all was red, andI seemed to do naught but strike and strike again, unconscious of painor wounds or anything but a fierce desire to be avenged on the villainswho had wrought such cruelty upon me. 

Howbeit, after a time I felt myself dragged by a friendly hand out ofthe thick of the fight and led across the bulwarks to the English ship, where I was presently conducted on to the poop, into the presence of aman whom I at once knew to be some great captain. He was of middleheight, with a high forehead, crisp brown hair, very steady gray eyes, and a hard, fierce mouth, slightly covered by a beard and moustache. Hewore a loose, dark, seaman's shirt, belted at the waist, and about hisneck was a plaited cord, having attached to it a ring, with which hisfingers played as he spoke to me. On his head was a scarlet cap with agold band, even as the man in the galleon had said. 

Such was my first glimpse of the great captain, Francis Drake, thenthirty years of age, and making his first voyage round the world. Istood staring at him for a moment, and he at me, and I know not whichwas most interested in the other. 

"Who art thou, friend?" he inquired, presently. 

"An English gentleman, sir, kidnaped by the Spaniards and carried toMexico, where I have undergone torments at the hands of the Inquisitors. I was a galley slave on board yonder vessel. "

"How many Englishmen are there with you?"

"At least forty. "

"Does the ship carry treasure?"

"Yes, sir, " I answered; "and she also carries two of the most cruelwretches that ever walked the earth. "

"Who are they, friend?"

"Manuel Nunez, the captain, and Bartolomeo, the monk. In God's name, sir, do justice upon them. "

He turned and gave some orders to an officer who stood by. Then he gavehis attention to the Spanish ship again, so I caught up my weapon andrushed back over the side, eager to find Pharaoh Nanjulian. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE FATE OF NUNEZ AND FREY BARTOLOMEO. 

By that time the fight was well-nigh over. During its progress anotherEnglish ship had sailed up on the other side of the Spaniard, and hermen were now swarming over the side, eager to have some share in thestruggle. Thus it came about that in a few moments, the Spaniards werecompletely worsted, and were forced to lay down their arms and beg formercy. 

I found Pharaoh Nanjulian busily occupied in seeing to the removal ofseveral men, who were too weak to move of their own accord, from thebenches where we had lately been chained. These were being carried tothe English ships, where they were received with such indignation as isfelt by honest men who abhor cruelty. So strong, indeed, were thefeelings aroused amongst the English sailors at the sight of ourbleeding backs, that their officers had much ado to prevent them fromslaying the Spaniards without mercy. 

"Where is the monk, Pharaoh?" I said. "He must not escape. Have you seenaught of him during the fight?"

But Pharaoh had seen naught. He had been fighting hard himself, and thatbeing over he had turned his attention to such of our unfortunatecompanions as were unable to help themselves. 

"He cannot be far away, master, " said he. "The rat will have found somehole, no doubt. "

At that moment one of Drake's officers came pressing on board, askingfor the friar. 

"Bring him aboard the Golden Hinde unharmed, " said he, "and the Spanishcaptain too. 'Tis Captain Drake's special order. Harm neither of them, but have them aboard. "

But neither Nunez nor Frey Bartolomeo were to be seen. Their men, suchas survived--and they were but few, --stood bound on deck, glaringsullenly at their captors, but neither monk nor captain were at hand. 

"Try the cabin, " said one, and we made our way to the cabin under thepoop, where Nunez was used to sit. But the door was fast, and we had tobreak it down. As the first man rushed in he fell back dead, with asword-thrust through his heart from Nunez, while the second dropped witha dagger-wound in his throat. But ere he could strike again PharaohNanjulian had seized him by the neck, and Captain Manuel Nunez wasdragged into the light, dispossessed of his weapons and bound securely. I stood and looked at him, and suddenly the fierce scowl of hate andrage cleared away from his features, and the old mocking, cold smilebegan to play about the corners of his eyes and mouth again. 

"The fortunes of war, Master Salkeld, " said he. "Yesterday you were downand I was up. To-day you are up and I am down. 'Tis fate. "

But I had no time to talk with him then, for I was anxious to find FreyBartolomeo. Therefore Pharaoh and I left Nunez with the officer andbegan searching the ship high and low. Because on first coming aboardher we had been straightway conducted to the oars we knew next tonothing of the Santa Filomena, and were accordingly some time in gettingour bearings. Nevertheless we could find no trace of the monk, whoseemed to have vanished into thin air, or to have gone overboard duringthe fight. He was not to be found either in cockpit or cabin, forecastleor lazaretto, and at last we stared blankly in each other's faces andwondered what had become of him. 

"There is one place we have not yet tried, " said Pharaoh, "and that isthe powder magazine. Maybe he has retreated there. "

We fetched a Spaniard from the upper deck and obliged him to conduct usto the magazine, and there, sure enough, was Frey Bartolomeo, calm andimpassive as ever. He had stove in the head of one barrel of gunpowder, and now stood over the powder holding a lighted candle in his hand. Aswe burst in the door and confronted him, he raised his pale face andregarded us with calmness and scorn. 

"Lay but a finger on me, ye Lutheran dogs, " he said, "and I will dropthis light into the powder and send your souls to perdition!"

The men with us started back, dismayed and affrighted by his grim looksand determined words. But Pharaoh Nanjulian laughed. 

"Your own soul will go with ours, friar, " said he. 

Frey Bartolomeo shot a fierce glance at him from under his cowl. 

"Fool!" he said. "Thinkest thou that I value life? What hinders me fromdestroying every one of you and myself as well?"

"This!" said Pharaoh, suddenly knocking the candle out of his hand. Itflew across the powder, and striking a bulkhead opposite, went outharmlessly. So we seized Frey Bartolomeo, who now bitterly reproachedhimself for not having blown up the ship before we reached him, andconducted him to the upper deck, from whence he and Captain Nunez werepresently conveyed to the Golden Hinde, where they were safely stowed inirons. 

And now, the fight being over, Drake and his men made haste to see whattreasure the galleon contained. In this quest, however, those of us whohad been rescued from the oars took no part, for now that the excitementwas dying away our feverish strength went with it, so that we presentlybegan to exhibit signs of terrible distress and exhaustion, and many ofus swooned away. Here, however, our rescuers came to our further relief, and the ship's doctor was soon busily engaged in seeing to us, dressingour wounds, giving us oils and unguents for our bloody stripes, andordering wine and food for all of us. So we were much refreshed; butnone of these things, comforting as they were, seemed so good to us asthe words of kindness, which we heard with wonder and astonishment, ourears having become accustomed to naught but threatenings and revilings. 

While we were occupied in this pleasant fashion, Drake's men transferreda vast amount of treasure from the Santa Filomena to the Golden Hinde. There was a large quantity of jewels, fourteen chests of ryals of plate, over a hundred pounds weight of gold, twenty tons of uncoined silver, and pieces of wrought gold and silver plate of great value. Thediscovery of all this treasure put our newly-found friends in highgood-humor, such ventures not having come in their way since they hadleft the coast of Panama some months previous. 

When all this treasure had been transferred to Drake's vessel, theGolden Hinde, the admiral sent for the Englishmen who had been rescuedfrom the Santa Filomena, and gave audience to us on the quarterdeck. Asad and sorry multitude we looked, spite of the surgeon's care, as westood gazing at the great sea-captain who had rescued us, and waitingfor him to speak. 

"Friends and fellow-countrymen, " said he, "every one of you shall goback with me to England. We have strange tales to tell ourselves, andso, it is somewhat evident, have ye. Be content now, I will chargemyself with your welfare. Where is he that spoke with me this morning?"

So I stepped forward, and he looked upon me keenly. 

"Thy name, friend?"

"Humphrey Salkeld, sir, nephew of Sir Thurstan Salkeld of Beechcot, inthe East Riding of Yorkshire. "

"Tell me thy tale, Master Salkeld. "

So I gave him the history that I have here written down, and when itcame to our doings in Mexico I spoke for Pharaoh Nanjulian and for allwho stood behind me. When I had got to the period which we spent onboard the Santa Filomena, my companions in distress bared theirshoulders and backs, and showed him the scars and the wounds and thestripes which we had received. Then his face grew stern and set and theEnglish sailors that stood by groaned in their wrath and indignation. 

"I am beholden to you, Master Salkeld, " he said, when I had done. "Arethere any of you that would say more?"

But none wished to speak save one old white-haired man, who lifted uphis hand and called God to witness that all I had said was true, andthat our torments under the Inquisition had been such as could only beprompted by the devil. 

Then Drake commanded his men to bring forward Manuel Nunez and FreyBartolomeo, and presently they stood before us, still bold and defiant, and Drake looked upon them. 

"I am thinking, Senors, " said he, "that if I had wrought such misdeedsupon your people as you have upon mine, and you had caught me red-handedas I have caught you, there would have been something in the way oftorture for me before I came to my last end. But be not alarmed; weEnglishmen love justice, but we hate cruelty. And so we will be just toyou, and we will send you to your true place, where there is doubtless areward prepared for you. Hang them to the yard-arm of their own ship. "

So they carried Nunez and the monk over the side, and presently theirbodies swung from the yard-arm of the Santa Filomena, and so theypassed to their reward. And as for Nunez, he mocked us till the end, butthe monk said never a word, but stared fixedly before him, seeming tocare no more for death than he had for the sufferings that he had heapedupon his fellow-men. 

After that Drake restored the Spaniards whom we had captured to theirown ship, and bade them go home, or back to Mexico, or wherever theypleased, and to tell their masters what Francis Drake had done to them, and that he would do the same to every Spaniard who crossed his path. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

HOME WITH DRAKE. 

During our awful captivity on board the galleon we had well-nigh lostall count or notion of time. To us one day was pretty much like another. If we slept it was only to be awakened by the overseer's whip. Day ornight it was all one with us; never did our tormentors cease to afflictus. We were reduced to the condition of animals, and had not even thecomfort which is allowed to them. Thus when the time of our rescue came, we had no notion of where we were or what part of the year it was. 

We now found that it was the middle of August, and that we were in theNorth Pacific Ocean and bearing direct for the Moluccas, where Drakeintended to trade before continuing his voyage homeward by way of theCape. We also learnt that this great captain was now taking his firstvoyage round the world, and that he had had many great and remarkableadventures on the Spanish Main and on the coast of Peru, and hadenriched his vessels with the spoils of Spanish treasure-ships, so thathe now had with him a store of great and unusual value. For from someships he had taken bars of silver, and from others blocks of gold, together with rich ladings, merchandise and silks, so rare and curiousas to be worth great sums of money. And all this treasure had beenchiefly won from the Spaniards in fair fight, and that without anycruelty or lust of blood or revenge. 

About the thirteenth day of September we came within view of someislands, situated about eight degrees northward from the line. Fromthese the islanders came out to us in canoes hollowed out of solidtrunks of a tree, and raised very high out of the water at both ends, sothat they almost formed a semicircle. These canoes were polished sohighly that they shone like ebony, and were kept steady by pieces oftimber fixed on each side of them by strong canes, fastened at one endto the canoe, and at the other to the timber. 

The first company that came out to us brought fruits, potatoes, andother commodities, none of any great value, and seemed anxious to tradewith us, making a great show of good-will and honesty. Soon after, however, they sent out another fleet of canoes, the crews of whichshowed themselves to be nothing better than thieves, for if we placedanything in their hands they immediately considered it to belong tothem, and would neither restore nor pay for it. Upon this we wereobliged to get rid of them, which we did by discharging a gun. As theyhad never seen ordnance discharged before they were vastly astonished bythis, and fled precipitately to the shore, having first pelted us withshowers of stones which they carried in their canoes. 

On the fifth of November we cast anchor before Ternate, and had scarcearrived when the viceroy of that place, attended by the chief nobles, came out in three boats, rowed by forty men on each side. Soonafterwards appeared the king himself, attended by a large and imposingretinue. Him we received with discharges of cannon and musketry, together with various kinds of music, with which he was so highlydelighted that he would have the musicians down into his own boat. Atthis place we stayed some days, trafficking with the inhabitants, whobrought us large quantities of provisions, and behaved to us withcivility. After that we repaired to a neighboring island, and therefound a commodious harbor where we repaired the Golden Hinde, and didourselves enjoy a much-needed rest. 

Leaving this place on the 12th day of December, we sailed southwardstowards the Celebes; but the wind being against us, we drifted aboutamong a multitude of islands mingled with shallows until the middle ofJanuary. And now we met with an adventure which was like to have stayedour further progress and put a summary end to all our hopes. For sailingforward under a strong gale we were one night suddenly surprised by ashock, caused by our being thrown upon a shoal, on which the speed ofour course served to fix us very fast. Upon examination we found thatthe rock on which we had struck rose perpendicularly from the water, andthere was no anchorage, nor any bottom to be found for some distance. Onmaking this discovery we lightened the ship by throwing into the sea anot inconsiderable portion of her lading. Even then the ship seemedhopelessly fast, and we had almost given way to despair when we were ona sudden relieved by a remission of the wind, which, having hithertoblown strongly against that side of the ship which lay towards the sea, holding it upright against the rock, now slackened, and blowing nolonger against our vessel allowed it to reel into deep water, to ourgreat comfort and relief. We had enjoyed so little hope of everextricating ourselves from this perilous position, that Drake had causedthe sacrament to be administered to us as if we had been on the point ofdeath, and now that we were mercifully set free we sang a Te Deum andwent forward very cautiously, hardly daring to set sails lest we shouldchance upon some reef still more dangerous. 

We now continued our voyage without any remarkable occurrence oradventure, until about the middle of March we came to anchor off theIsland of Java. Having sent to the king a present of clothes and silks, we received from him in return a quantity of provisions; and on thefollowing day Drake himself went on shore, and after entertaining theking with music obtained leave from him to forage for fresh food. Here, then, we remained some days, taking in provisions, and being visited bythe princes and head men of that country, and later by the king, all ofwhom manifested great interest in us, and in our armaments andinstruments of navigation. 

Leaving Java about the end of March we sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, which we sighted about the middle of June. During all that time we metwith no very remarkable adventure; nevertheless, because we were sailingthrough seas which no Englishman had ever previously traversed there wasnot a day which did not present some feature of interest to us, or addto our knowledge of those strange parts of the world. To me, and to suchof my companions as had suffered with me in the dungeons of theInquisition or on the deck of the galleon, this voyage was as a glimpseof Paradise. For we were treated with the utmost kindness andconsideration by Drake and his men, and they would not suffer us toundertake anything in the shape of work until our wounds were fairlyhealed and our strength recruited. To those of us who had suffered sobitterly that our strength was well-nigh departed, this welcome reliefwas very grateful. As for me, on discovering my condition I was ratedwith Drake and his officers, and with them did spend many exceedingpleasant hours, listening to their marvelous adventures and stories offights with our old enemies, the Spaniards. But Pharaoh, hating to donaught, applied for a rating, and so they made him boatswain's mate, andthenceforth he was happy, and seemed quickly to forget the manyprivations and discomforts which he and I had undergone. 

So on the third week of September, 1580, we came to Plymouth Sound, andonce more looked upon English land and English faces. And this we didwith such thankfulness and rejoicing as you cannot conceive. As forDrake and his men, they had been away two years and some ten months, and in that time had taken their ships round the world. And because theywere the first Englishmen that had ever done this, there was suchringing of bells, and lighting of bonfires, and setting up of feasts andjollities as had never been known in England. From the queen to themeanest hind there was nobody that did not join in the generalrejoicing. Wherefore, at Plymouth, where we landed, there were greatstirrings, and men clung around us to hear our marvelous tales andadventures. And as for Drake himself, the queen soon afterwards made hima knight on the deck of the Golden Hinde; and so he became Sir Francis, and thereafter did many wonderful deeds which are set forth in thechronicles of that time. 

Now, I no sooner set foot upon English soil than I was immediatelyconsumed with impatience to go home to Beechcot, and therefore I soughtout Drake and begged him to let me begone. 

"Why, " quoth he, "knowing your story as I do, Master Salkeld, I make nowonder that you should be in some haste to return to your own friends. Ipray God that you may find all well with them. "

Then he generously pressed upon me a sum of money in gold, wherewith tofit myself out for the journey and defray my expenses on the way; andfor this kindness I was deeply grateful, seeing that I was utterlypenniless, and owed the very garments I then wore to the charity of oneof his officers. So I said farewell to him and his company, and beggedthem to remember me if we should meet no more, and then I went to findPharaoh Nanjulian. 

"Pharaoh, " said I, when I came upon him on the deck of the Golden Hinde, "I am going home. "

He pushed back his cap and scratched his head and looked at me. 

"Aye, " he said, "I supposed it would be so, master. As for me, I have nohome to go to. My mother is dead and buried in Marazion churchyard, andI have neither kith nor kin in the wide world. "

"Come with me to Beechcot, " said I, "you shall abide there for the restof your days in peace and plenty. "

But he shook his head. 

"Nay, master, " he answered, "that would never do. I am naught but arough sea-dog, and I should be too big and savage for a quiet life. Besides, yon constable of yours would be forever at my heels, fearinglest I should break the peace again. "

"There shall no man harm you if you will come with me, " said I. "Comeand be my man. "

"Nay, master, not so. Born and bred to the sea I was, and to the sea Iwill cleave. Besides, I am Francis Drake's man now, and with him I shallsee rare ventures. Already there is talk of an expedition against theSpaniards. That is the life for me. "

So there was no more to be said, and I gave him my hand sorrowfully, forhe had proved a true friend. 

"Good-bye, then, Pharaoh Nanjulian. "

"Good-bye, master. We have seen some rare ventures together. I thank Godfor bringing us safely out of them. "

"Amen! I shall not forget them or thee. And God grant we may meetagain. "

So we pressed each other's hands with full hearts, and I went away andleft him gazing after me. 

CHAPTER XX. 

BEECHCOT ONCE MORE. 

Because it was autumn, I found some slight difficulty in travelingacross country from Plymouth to Beechcot, and it accordingly was severaldays before I reached York and entered upon the final stage of myjourney. At Plymouth I had bought a stout horse, and pushed forward, mounted in creditable fashion, to Exeter, and from thence to Bristol, where I struck into the Midlands and made for Derby and Sheffield. Ittook me a fortnight to reach York, and there, my horse being well-nighspent, though I had used him with mercy, I exchanged him for a cob, which was of stout build, and good enough to carry me over the thirtymiles which yet remained of my journey. 

Now, as I drew near the old place, in the twilight of a dull Octoberafternoon, my heart beat within my breast as if it would suffocate me. Ihad been away two years, and had gone under circumstances of thestrangest character. Those whom I had left behind had probably longsince given me up as dead. Worse than that--how did I know whatmalicious story might not have been invented and set forth by my cousinJasper as to my disappearance? Well, the time was now at hand when allshould be explained. But yet--what changes might there not be? I dreadedto think of them. I might find my good uncle dead, Jasper in possession, my sweetheart married--but nay, that seemed hardly to be believed. Andyet if she thought me dead?

Thus I went forward, my heart torn by many conflicting emotions. Then Ibegan to think of the changes that had taken place in me. Two years agoI had set out a light-hearted, careless lad, full of confidence andignorance, knowing naught of the world nor of its cruelties. Now I cameback a man, full of strange experiences, my mind charged with manyterrible memories, my body bearing witness of the sufferings andprivations which I had undergone. It was not the old Humphrey Salkeldthat rode down Beechcot village street. Nay, it was not even the oldHumphrey Salkeld in looks. Stopping a few hours at the inn in York I hadexamined myself in a mirror, and had decided that it would be hard workfor my old friends to recognize me. I had grown an inch or two, my facewas seamed and wrinkled, and wore a strange, grim, wearied look, mybeard was a good three inches long, and my mouth covered by a moustache. Changed I was indeed. 

I rode up to the door of the inn at Beechcot, where I had first seenPharaoh Nanjulian, and called loudly for the host. There was no oneabout the door of the inn, but presently Geoffrey Scales, looking nodifferent to what he did when I had last seen him, came bustling alongthe sanded passage with his lantern, and turned the light full on myface. I trembled, and could scarce control my voice as I spoke to him;but I soon saw that he did not recognize me. 

"How far is it to Scarborough, master?" I inquired. 

"A good twenty miles, sir, and a bad road. "

"What, are there thieves on it?"

"There are highwaymen, sir, and ruts, which is worse; and as formud--there, your honor would be lost in it. "

"Then I had better stay here for the night, eh?"

"Much better, if your honor pleases. "

So I dismounted and bade him take my cob round to his stable, andfollowed him myself to hear more news. 

"What place is this?" I inquired. 

"Beechcot, sir--a village of the Wolds. "

"And who owns it, landlord?"

"Sir Thurstan Salkeld, sir. "

"Is he alive and well, landlord?"

Now, whether it was my voice or the unwonted agitation in it thatattracted his attention, I know not, but certain it is that when I askedthis question Geoffrey Scales held up his light to my face, and afteranxiously peering therein for a moment, cried out loudly:

"Marry, I knew it! 'Tis Master Humphrey, come home again, alive andwell!" and therewith he would have rushed away to rouse the wholevillage if I had not stayed him. 

"Hush! Geoffrey, " I said. "It is I, true enough, and I am well enough, but prithee keep quiet awhile, for I do not wish anyone to know that Ihave returned for a season. Tell me first how is my uncle and MistressRose. Are they well, Geoffrey? Quick!"

"Oh, Master Humphrey, " quoth he, "what a turn you have given me! Yes, sir, yes; your uncle, good man, is well, though he hath never been thesame man since you disappeared, Master Humphrey. And as for MistressRose, 'tis just the same sweet maiden as ever, and hath grieved for youmightily. But what a to-do there will be, Master Humphrey! Prithee, letme go and tell all the folk. "

"Not now, Geoffrey, on thy life. Let me first see my sweetheart and myuncle, and then I will cause the great bell at the manor to be rung, andyou shall take it for a signal and shall tell who you like. "

So he promised to obey me, and I left him and took my way towards thevicarage, for my heart longed sore for the presence of my sweetheart. 

Now, as I came up to the front of the house there was a light burning inthe parlor, and I stole up to the window and looked in, and saw Rosebusy with her needle. Fair and sweet she was, aye, sweeter, I think, than ever; but it was easy to see that she had sorrowed, and that thesorrow had left its mark upon her. I had always remembered her in mytrials and torments as the merry, laughing maiden, that had flown hitherand thither like a spirit of spring; now I saw her a woman, sweet andlovely, but with a touch of sadness about her that I knew had come therebecause of me. 

I went round to the door and tapped softly upon it. Presently came Rose, bearing a candle, and opened it to my knock, and looked out upon me. Idrew farther away into the darkness. 

"Is this the abode of Master Timotheus Herrick?" I asked. 

"Yes, sir, " she answered, "but he is not in at this moment. You willfind him at the church, where he has gone to read the evening service. "

"I had a message for his daughter, " said I. 

"I am his daughter, sir. What message have you for me?"

"I have come from sea, " I answered. "It is a message from one you know. "

"From one I know--at sea? But I know no one at sea. Oh, sir, what is ityou would tell me?"

"Let me come in, " I said; and she turned and led the way into theparlor, and set down the candle and looked steadily at me. And then shesuddenly knew me, and in another instant I had her in my arms, and herface was upon my breast, and all the woes and sorrows of my captivitywere forgotten. 

"Humphrey!" she cried. "O, thank God--thank God! My dear, my dear, it isyou, is it not? Am I dreaming--shall I wake presently to find you gone?"

"Never again, sweetheart, never again! I am come back indeed--somewhatchanged, it is true, but still your true and faithful lover. "

"And I thought you were dead! O my poor Humphrey, where have you beenand what has been done to you? Yes, you are changed--you have suffered, have you not?"

"More than I could wish my worst enemy to suffer, " I answered. "But Iforget it all when I look at you, Rose. Oh, sweetheart, if you knew howI have longed for this moment!"

And then, hand in hand, we kneeled down together and thanked God for allhis goodness, and for the marvelous mercy with which he had brought usthrough this time of sore trouble. And on our knees we kissed each othersolemnly, and so sealed our reunion, and blotted out all the bitternessof the past from our hearts, so that there was nothing left there butmemories, sad indeed, but no longer painful. 

"And now, " said Rose, "tell me, Humphrey, where you have been and how itwas you went away. Oh, if you knew how we have sorrowed for you. "

"First tell me, Rose, how is my uncle?"

"He is well, Humphrey, but he has mourned for you ever since Jasper camehome and told us of your death. "

"Ah! Jasper came home and told you of my death, did he? And by whatmanner of death did I die, according to Master Jasper?"

"He said you were drowned at Scarborough, in coming from some vesselwhere you and he had been paying a visit at night to the captain. "

"And did no one doubt him, Rose? Were there no inquiries made?"

"I doubted him, Humphrey. I felt sure there was some strange mystery, but how could I find it out? And what could be done--they could not dragScarborough Bay for your body. Humphrey, did Jasper play some trick uponyou--did he get you out of the way?"

"He did, Rose. Yea, he got me out of the way so well that I have beenright round the world since last I set foot in Beechcot. Think of that, my dear. Right round the world! I have seen Mexico and the Pacific andJava and the Celebes and Africa, and I know not what, and here I amagain. "

"But you have suffered, Humphrey? Where--and how?"

So I told her very briefly of what had happened to me in the cells ofthe Inquisition, and as I spoke, her sweet face was filled withcompassion and her eyes were bright with tears, and she held my handstightly clasped in her own as if she would never let them go again. 

"Can such things be?" she asked. "Oh, why God does allow them I cannotunderstand. My poor Humphrey!"

"Naught but God's help could have brought us through them, dear heart, "I answered. "And, indeed, I think naught of them now, and wouldcheerfully face them again if I thought they would cause you to love memore. "

But she answered that that was impossible, and scolded me very prettilyfor thinking of such a thing. 

And then came Master Timotheus back from reading prayers, and enteredthe parlor, carrying a great folio in his hand and blinking at usthrough his big spectacles. And when he saw me, he stopped and stared. 

"Here is a visitor, father, " said Rose. "Look closely at him--do you notknow him?"

But the good man, taking my hand in his own, did stare at me hard andlong ere he discovered me, and then he fell upon my neck and embraced meheartily and wept with joy. 

"Of a truth, " said he, "I might have known that it was thee, Humphrey, for two reasons. First, I have been of an uncommonly light-heartednature all this day, and did once detect myself in the act of singing amerry song; and secondly, I saw on entering the parlor that Rose's facewas brighter than it hath been since last we saw thee. "

Then he laid his hand on my head and blessed me, and thanked God forsending me home again; and he shed more tears, and was fain to take offhis spectacles and polish them anew. And he would have had me sup withthem, but on hearing that I had not yet seen my uncle he bade me go tohim at once, so I said farewell for that time and took my way to themanor. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

HOW THEY RANG THE BELLS AT BEECHCOT CHURCH. 

As I walked across from the vicarage to the manor house, the moon cameout in the autumn evening sky and lighted the landscape with abrightness that was little short of daylight. I stood for a few momentsat the vicarage gate admiring the prospect. Far away to the eastwardrose the Wolds, dark and unbroken, different indeed from the giant bulkof Orizaba, but far more beautiful to me. Beneath them lay the villageof Beechcot, with its farmsteads and cottages casting black shadows uponthe moonlit meadow, and here and there a rushlight burning dimly in thewindows. I had kept that scene in my mind's eye many a time during myrecent tribulations, and had wondered if ever I should see it again. Now that I did see it, it was far more beautiful than I had ever knownit or imagined it to be, for it meant home, and love, and peace aftermuch sorrow. 

My path led me through the churchyard. There the moonlight fell brightand clear on the silent mounds and ghostly tombstones. By the chancel Ipaused for a moment to glance at the monument which Sir Thurstan hadlong since erected to my father and mother's memory. It was light enoughto read the inscription, and also to see that a new one had been addedto it. Wondering what member of our family was dead, I went nearer andexamined the stone more carefully. Then I saw that the new inscriptionwas in memory of myself!

I have never heard of a man reading his own epitaph, and truly it gaveme many curious feelings to stand there and read of myself as a deadman. And yet I had been dead to all of them for more than two years. 

"And of Humphrey Salkeld, only son of the above Richard Salkeld and hiswife Barbara, who was drowned at Scarborough, October, 1578, to thegreat grief and sorrow of his uncle, Thurstan Salkeld, Knight. "

 * * * * *

"So I am dead and yet alive, " I said, and laughed gayly at the notion. "If that is so, there are some great surprises in store for more thanone in this parish. And no one will be more surprised than my worthycousin, but he will be the only person that is sorry to see me. Oh, forhalf an hour with him alone!"

At that very moment Jasper was coming to meet me. I knew it not, nor didhe. 

Between the churchyard and the manor-house of Beechcot there is a fieldcalled the Duke's Garth, and across this runs a foot-path. As I turnedaway from reading my own epitaph, I saw a figure advancing along thispath and making for the churchyard. It was the figure of a man, and hewas singing some catch or song softly to himself. I recognized thevoice at once. It was Jasper's. I drew back into the shadow cast by thebuttress of the chancel and waited his coming. We were going to settleour account once and forever. 

He came lightly over the stile which separates the garth from thechurchyard, and was making rapid strides towards the vicarage when Istopped him. 

"Jasper, " I said, speaking in a deep voice and concealing myself in theshadow. "Jasper Stapleton. "

He stopped instantly, and stood looking intently towards where I stood. 

"Who calls me?" he said. 

"I, Jasper, --thy cousin, Humphrey Salkeld. "

I could have sworn that he started and began to tremble. But suddenly helaughed. 

"Dead men call nobody, " said he. "You are some fool that is trying tofrighten me. Come out, sirrah!"

And he drew near. I waited till he was close by, and then I stepped intothe moonlight, which fell full and clear on my face. He gave a greatcry, and lifting up his arm as if to ward off a blow fell back a pace ortwo and stood staring at me. 

"Humphrey!" he cried. 

"None other, cousin. The dead, you see, sometimes come to life again. And I am very much alive, Jasper. "

He stood still staring at me, and clutching his heart as if his breathcame with difficulty. 

"What have you to say, Jasper?" I asked at length. 

"We--we thought you were drowned, " he gasped out. "There is aninscription on your father's tombstone. "

"Liar!" I said. "You know I was not drowned. You know that you contrivedthat I should be carried to Mexico. Tell me no more lies, cousin. Let usfor once have the plain truth. Why did you treat me as you did atScarborough?"

"Because you stood 'twixt me and the inheritance, " he muttered sullenly. 

"And so for the sake of a few acres of land and a goodly heritage youwould condemn one who had never harmed you to horrors such as you cannotimagine?" I said. "Look at me, Jasper. Even in this light it is notdifficult to see how I am changed. I have gone through such woes andtorments as you would scarcely credit. I have been in the hands ofdevils in human shape, and they have so worked their will upon me thatthere is hardly an inch of my body that is not marked and scarred. Thatwas thy doing, Jasper, --thine and thy fellow-villain's. Dost know whathappened to him?"

"No, " he whispered, "what of him?"

"I saw him hanged to his own yard-arm in the Pacific Ocean, Jasper, andhe went to his own place with the lives of many an innocent man upon hisblack soul. Take care you do not follow him. Shame upon you, cousin, for the trick you played me!"

"You came between me and the girl I loved, " he said fiercely. "All isfair in love and war. "

"Coward!" I said. "And liar, too! I never came between her and thee, forshe had never a word to give such a black-hearted villain as thou hastproved thyself. And now, what is to prevent me from taking my revengeupon thee, Jasper?"

"This, " he said, very suddenly, whipping out his rapier. "This, MasterHumphrey. Home you have come again, worse luck, and have no doubt doneyour best to injure me in more quarters than one, but you shall not liveto enjoy either land, or title, or sweetheart, for you shall die hereand now. "

And with that he came pressing upon me with a sudden fury that was fullof murderous intent. 

Now I had no weapon by me save a stout cudgel which I had cut from acoppice by the wayside that morning, and this you would think wasnaught when set against a rapier. Nevertheless I made such play with it, that presently I knocked Jasper's weapon clean out of his hand so thathe could not recover it. And after that I seized him by the throat andbeat with my cudgel until he roared and begged for mercy, beseeching menot to kill him. 

"Have no fear, cousin, " said I, still laying on to him, "I will not killthee, for I would have thee repent of all thy misdeeds. "

And with that I gave him two or three sound cuts and then flung him fromme against the wall, where he lay groaning and cursing me. 

After that I saw Jasper Stapleton no more. He never showed his face inBeechcot again, and in a few days his mother, Dame Barbara, disappearedalso; and so they vanished out of my life, and I was glad of it, forthey had worked me much mischief. 

When I reached the manor-house I let myself in by a secret way that Iknew of and went straight to the great hall, where sat my uncle, SirThurstan, wrapped in cloaks and rugs, before a great fire of wood. Hewas all alone, and hearing my step he half turned his head. 

"Is that Jasper?" he inquired. 

"Nay, sir, " said I. "It is I--Humphrey--and I am come home again. "

And I went forward and kneeled down before him and put my hands on hisknees. 

For a moment he stared at me as men stare at ghosts, then he gave agreat sob of delight, stretched out his arms, put them about my neck, and wept over me like a woman. 

"Oh lad, lad!" said he. "If thou didst but know how this old heart didgrieve for thy sake. And thou art here, well and strong, and I did causethy name to be graven on thy parents' tombstone!"

"Never mind, sir, " said I, "we can cut it out again. Anyway I am notdead, but I have seen some rare and terrible adventures. "

"Sit thyself down at my side, " quoth he, "and tell me all about them. Alive and well--yes, and two inches taller, as I live! Well, I thank Godhumbly. But thou art hungry, poor boy, --what ho! where are thoserascals? Call for them, Humphrey, --thou must be famished. "

"All in good time, sir, " said I, and went over to the rope which led tothe great bell and pulled it vigorously, so that the clangor filled thepark below with stirring sound. And Geoffrey Scales, waiting impatientlyat the inn, heard it and ran round with the news, and they rang thechurch bells, and every soul in Beechcot that could walk came hurryingto the manor and would have audience of me in the great hall. 

Thus did I come home again. And having told my story to my uncle, SirThurstan, and to Master Timotheus Herrick, we agreed that for thepresent we would leave Jasper Stapleton's name out of it. But somehow, most likely because Jasper and his evil-tongued mother disappeared, thetruth got out, and ere long everybody knew my story from beginning toend. 

Within a few weeks of my home-coming Rose and I were married in Beechcotchurch, and again the bells rang out merrily. Never had bridegroom asweeter bride; never had husband a truer or nobler wife. I say it afterfifty years of blessed companionship, and in my heart I thank God forthe delights which he hath given me in her. 

And now I have brought my history to a close. Yet there is one matterwhich I must speak of before I say farewell to you. 

It is about twenty years since one of my servants came to me onesummer evening and said that an old man stood at my door waiting tosee me. I followed him presently, and there saw a tall, white-haired, white-bearded figure, dressed in a rough seaman's dress and leaningupon a staff. He looked at me and smiled, and then I saw that it wasPharaoh Nanjulian. 

"You have not forgotten me, master?" he said. 

"Forgotten thee! May God forget me if ever I forget thee, my old, truefriend!" I said, and I led him in and made him welcome as a king to myhouse and to all that I had. And with me he lived, an honored guest andfriend, for ten years longer, when he died, being then a very old man ofnear one hundred years. And him I still mourn with true sorrow andaffection, for his was a mighty heart, and it had been knit to mine bythose bonds of sorrow which are scarcely less strong than the bonds oflove. 

 THE END. 

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words andintent.