OnthedayafterIhadgivenmyfortuneandlettersintothechargeofCaptainBell，Iwatchedthe’Adventuress’dropslowlyroundthemoleofCadiz，andsosadwasIatheart，thatIamnotashamedtoconfessIwept。
Iwouldgladlyhavethewealthshecarriedifshehadbutcarriedme。
Butmypurposewasindomitable，anditmustbesomeothershipthatwouldbearmehometotheshoresofEngland。
Asitchanced，alargeSpanishcaraknamed’LasCinqueLlagas，’or’TheFiveWounds，’wasabouttosailforHispaniola，andhavingobtainedalicencetotrade，Itookpassageinherundermyassumednameofd’Aila，passingmyselfoffasamerchant。
TofurtherthisdeceptionIpurchasedgoodsthevalueofonehundredandfivepesos，andofsuchnatureasIwasinformedweremostreadilysaleableintheIndies，whichmerchandiseIshippedwithme。
ThevesselwasfullofSpanishadventurers，mostlyruffiansofvariedcareerandstrangehistory，butnonethelessgoodcompanionsenoughwhennotindrink。
BythistimeIcouldspeakCastiliansoperfectly，andwassoSpanishinappearance，thatitwasnotdifficultformetopassmyselfoffasoneoftheirnationandthisIdid，inventingafeignedtaleofmyparentage，andofthereasonsthatledmetotempttheseas。
Fortherest，nowaseverIkeptmyowncounsel，andnotwithstandingmyreserve，forIwouldnotmingleintheirorgies，Isoonbecamewelllikedbymycomrades，chieflybecauseofmyskillinministeringtotheirsicknesses。
Ofourvoyagethereislittletotellexceptofitssadend。
AttheCanaryIsleswestayedamonth，andthensailedawayforHispaniola，meetingwithfineweatherbutlightwinds。
When，asourcaptainreckoned，wewerewithinaweek’ssailoftheportofSanDomingoforwhichwewerebound，theweatherchanged，andpresentlygatheredtoafurioustempestfromthenorththatgrewmoreterribleeveryhour。
Forthreedaysandnightsourcumbrousvesselgroanedandlabouredbeneaththestressofthegale，thatdroveusonrapidlyweknewnotwhither，tillatlengthitbecameclearthat，unlesstheweathermoderated，wemustfounder。
Ourshipleakedateveryseam，oneofourmastswascarriedaway，andanotherbrokenintwo，ataheightoftwentyfeetfromthedeck。
Butallthesemisfortunesweresmallcomparedtowhatwastocome，foronthefourthmorningagreatwavesweptoffourrudder，andwedriftedhelplessbeforethewaves。
Anhourlateragreenseacameaboardofus，washingawaythecaptain，sothatwefilledandsettleddowntofounder。
Thenbeganamosthorridscene。
Forseveraldaysboththecrewandpassengershadbeendrinkingheavilytoallaytheirterror，andnowthattheysawtheirendathand，theyrushedtoandfroscreaming，praying，andblaspheming。
Suchofthemasremainedsoberbegantogetoutthetwoboats，intowhichIandanotherman，aworthypriest，strovetoplacethewomenandchildren，ofwhomwehadseveralonboard。
Butthiswasnoeasytask，forthedrunkensailorspushedthemasideandtriedtospringintotheboats，thefirstofwhichoverturned，sothatallwerelost。
Justthenthecarakgavealurchbeforeshesank，and，seeingthateverythingwasover，Icalledtothepriesttofollowme，andspringingintotheseaIswamforthesecondboat，which，ladenwithsomeshriekingwomen，haddriftedlooseintheconfusion。
AsitchancedIreacheditsafely，beingastrongswimmer，andwasabletorescuethepriestbeforehesank。
Thenthevesselrearedherselfuponhersternandfloatedthusforaminuteormore，whichgaveustimetogetouttheoarsandrowsomefathomsfurtherawayfromher。
Scarcelyhadwedoneso，when，withonewildandfearfulscreamfromthoseonboardofher，sherusheddownintothedepthsbelow，nearlytakinguswithher。
Forawhilewesatsilent，forourhorroroverwhelmedus，butwhenthewhirlpoolwhichshemadehadceasedtoboil，werowedbacktowherethecarakhadbeen。
Nowalltheseawasstrewnwithwreckage，butamongitwefoundonlyonechildlivingthathadclungtoanoar。
Therest，sometwohundredsouls，hadbeensuckeddownwiththeshipandperishedmiserably，oriftherewereanystillliving，wecouldnotfindtheminthatwelteringseaoverwhichthedarknesswasfalling。
Indeed，itwaswellforourownsafetythatwefailedinsodoing，forthelittleboathadtensoulsonboardinall，whichwasasmanyasshecouldcarry——thepriestandIbeingtheonlymenamongthem。
Ihavesaidthatthedarknesswasfalling，andasitchancedhappilyforus，sowasthesea，orassuredlywemusthavebeenswamped。
Allthatwecoulddowastokeeptheboat’sheadstraighttothewaves，andthiswedidthroughthelongnight。
Itwasastrangethingtosee，orrathertohear，thatgoodmanthepriestmycompanion，confessingthewomenonebyoneashelabouredathisoar，andwhenallwereshrivensendingupprayerstoGodforthesalvationofoursouls，forofthesafetyofourbodieswedespaired。
WhatIfeltmaywellbeimagined，butIforbeartodescribeit，seeingthat，badaswasmycase，therewereworseonesbeforemeofwhichIshallhavetotellintheirseason。
Atlengththenightworeaway，andthedawnbrokeuponthedesolatesea。
Presentlythesuncameup，forwhichatfirstwewerethankful，forwewerechilledtothebone，butsoonitsheatgrewintolerable，sincewehadneitherfoodnorwaterintheboat，andalreadywewereparchedwiththirst。
Butnowthewindhadfallentoasteadybreeze，andwiththehelpoftheoarsandablanket，wecontrivedtofashionasailthatdrewusthroughthewateratagoodspeed。
Buttheoceanwasvast，andwedidnotknowwhitherweweresailing，andeveryhourtheagonyofthirstpressedusmoreclosely。
Towardsmid-dayachilddiedsuddenlyandwasthrownintothesea，andsomethreehourslaterthemotherfilledabailingbowlanddrankdeepofthebitterwater。
Forawhileitseemedtoassuageherthirst，thensuddenlyamadnesstookher，andspringingupshecastherselfoverboardandsank。
Beforethesun，glowinglikeared-hotball，hadsunkbeneaththehorizon，thepriestandI
weretheonlyonesinthatcompanywhocouldsitupright——therestlayuponthebottomoftheboatheapedoneonanotherlikedyingfishgroaningintheirmisery。
Nightfellatlastandbroughtussomerelieffromoursufferings，fortheairgrewcooler。
Buttherainweprayedfordidnotfall，andsogreatwastheheatthat，whenthesunroseagaininacloudlesssky，weknew，ifnohelpreachedus，thatitmustbethelastwhichweshouldsee。
Anhourafterdawnanotherchilddied，andaswewereintheactofcastingthebodyintothesea，Ilookedupandsawavesselfaraway，thatseemedtobesailinginsuchfashionthatshewouldpasswithintwomilesofwherewewere。
ReturningthankstoGodforthismostblessedsight，wetooktotheoars，forthewindwasnowsolightthatourclumsysailwouldnolongerdrawusthroughthewater，androwedfeeblysoastocutthepathoftheship。
Whenwehadlabouredformorethananhourthewindfellaltogetherandthevessellaybecalmedatadistanceofaboutthreemiles。
SothepriestandIrowedontillIthoughtthatwemustdieintheboat，fortheheatofthesunwaslikethatofaflameandtherecamenowindtotemperit；bynow，too，ourlipswerecrackedwiththirst。
Stillwestruggledontilltheshadowoftheship’smastsfellathwartusandwesawhersailorswatchingusfromthedeck。
Nowwewerealongsideandtheyletdownaladderofrope，speakingtousinSpanish。
HowwereachedthedeckIcannotsay，butIrememberfallingbeneaththeshadeofanawninganddrinkingcupaftercupofthewaterthatwasbroughttome。
Atlastevenmythirstwassatisfied，andforawhileIgrewfaintanddizzy，andhadnostomachforthemeatwhichwasthrustintomyhand。
Indeed，I
thinkthatImusthavefainted，forwhenIcametomyselfthesunwasstraightoverhead，anditseemedtomethatIhaddreamedI
heardafamiliarandhatefulvoice。
AtthetimeIwasalonebeneaththeawning，forthecrewoftheshipweregatheredontheforedeckclusteringroundwhatappearedtobethebodyofaman。
Bymysidewasalargeplateofvictualsandaflaskofspirits，andfeelingstrongerIateanddrankofthemheartily。
Ihadscarcelyfinishedmymealwhenthemenontheforedeckliftedthebodyoftheman，whichIsawwasblackincolour，andcastitoverboard。
Thenthreeofthem，whomfromtheirportItooktobeofficers，cametowardsmeandIrosetomyfeettomeetthem。
’Senor，’saidthetallestoftheminasoftandgentlevoice，’suffermetoofferyouourfelicitationsonyourwonderful——’andhestoppedsuddenly。
DidIstilldream，ordidIknowthevoice？
NowforthefirsttimeIcouldseetheman’sface——itwasthatofJUANDEGARCIA！
ButifIknewhimhealsoknewme。
’Caramba！’hesaid，’whomhavewehere？
SenorThomasWingfieldI
saluteyou。
Look，mycomrades，youseethisyoungmanwhomtheseahasbroughttous。
HeisnoSpaniardbutanEnglishspy。
ThelasttimethatIsawhimwasinthestreetsofSeville，andtherehetriedtomurdermebecauseIthreatenedtorevealhistradetotheauthorities。
Nowheishere，uponwhaterrandheknowsbest。’
’Itisfalse，’Ianswered；’Iamnospy，andIamcometotheseseasforonepurposeonly——tofindyou。’
’Thenyouhavesucceededwell，toowellforyourowncomfort，perhaps。
Saynow，doyoudenythatyouareThomasWingfieldandanEnglishman？’
’Idonotdenyit。
I——’
’Yourpardon。
Howcomesitthenthat，asyourcompanionthepriesttellsme，yousailedinLasCinqueLlagasunderthenameofD’AILA？’
’Formyownreasons，JuandeGarcia。’
’Youareconfused，senor。
MynameisSarceda，asthesegentlemencanbearmewitness。
OnceIknewacavalierofthenameofdeGarcia，butheisdead。’
’Youlie，’Ianswered；whereononeofDeGarcia’scompanionsstruckmeacrossthemouth。
’Gently，friend，’saiddeGarcia；’donotdefileyourhandbystrikingsuchratsasthis，orifyoumuststrike，useastick。
YouhaveheardthatheconfessestopassingunderafalsenameandtobeinganEnglishman，andthereforeoneofourcountry’sfoes。
TothisIadduponmywordofhonourthattomyknowledgeheisaspyandawould-bemurderer。
Now，gentlemen，underthecommissionofhismajesty’srepresentative，wearejudgeshere，butsinceyoumaythinkthat，havingbeencalledaliaropenlybythisEnglishdog，Imightbemindedtodealunjustlywithhim，Iprefertoleavethematterinyourhands。’
NowItriedtospeakoncemore，buttheSpaniardwhohadstruckme，aferocious-lookingvillain，drewhisswordandsworethathewouldrunmethroughifIdaredtoopenmylips。
SoIthoughtitwelltokeepsilent。
’ThisEnglishmanwouldgraceayardarmverywell，’hesaid。
DeGarcia，whohadbeguntohumatuneindifferently，smiled，lookingfirstattheyardandthenatmyneck，andthehateinhiseyesseemedtoburnme。
’Ihaveabetterthoughtthanthat，’saidthethirdofficer。
’Ifwehunghimquestionsmightbeasked，andattheleast，itwouldbeawasteofgoodmoney。
Heisafinelybuiltyoungmanandwouldlastsomeyearsinthemines。
Lethimbesoldwiththerestofthecargo，orIwilltakehimmyselfatavaluation。
Iaminwantofafewsuchonmyestate。’
AtthesewordsIsawdeGarcia’sfacefallalittle，forhewishedtoberidofmeforever。
