第18章

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。