My poor captain had before been very
ill, and as the ship was, his own property, and all he possessed in the
world, his loss ruined him. From the day he got the viceroy's answer,
he never again lifted up his head; and in a week he died in my arms. It
was of a broken heart, I suppose; for there was nothing the matter with
him that I could see. Poor fellow, I have seen many a shipmate struck
down by the shot of the enemy, or sinking under the foaming waves, when
there was no help at hand; but I never mourned for one as I did for him,
for he was a right honest and kind man. The Dons did not show much
Christian charity towards him after he was dead either, for they said he
was a heretic; so they would not bury him in the churchyard, but carried
him away to a field, where they dug a hole and covered him up like a
dog. I didn't think that mattered at all, however; so I owed them no
grudge for it. I never could see the use of praying for a man after he
was dead. He did not mind where he lay, and God will know where to look
for him at the last day, when he has to stand his trial like all of us.
At first I felt a wish to die too; but I soon got over that, and taking
the money and the few things the captain had given me (I've got his note
about that matter--his will he called it), I started off for the coast
to look out for another ship. As I have been often in the country, I
have picked up some of their lingo, so got on well enough among the
Dons; but I found I couldn't very well travel alone, and often had to
wait till I found some one going my road. It was in this way, while I
was looking out for companions, that I happened to fall in with you.
And now you know something of my history, are you willing to trust me?"

"Had I known nothing about it, after the essential service you have
rendered us, I would confidently have trusted you," I answered.

"Avast now then, mate," exclaimed Ned Gale; "don't give me any soft
sawder; I'm not fond of it. I like the cut of your jib, and you like
the cut of mine; so we shall sail very well in company. By-and-by we
shall know more of each other. And the young Don there, I like his
looks too, though I'm not over partial to the natives. Howsomdever,
we've had talking enough, and as my arms are rested, and there don't
appear to be any enemy abroad looking for us, we may as well get under
weigh again."

I agreed with him; and Pedro and I sinking down into our former
position, we a