own upon the deck, and
as we were not more than fifty yards away from the frigate, the men had
been just mowed down. We were all ironed as soon as we were brought on
board. After that we were brought up one by one and questioned.

"'You are young to be engaged in such work as this,' the captain said
when my turn came.

"'I was forced into it against my will, sir,' I said.

"'Yes,' the captain said, 'I suppose so; that's the story each of the
prisoners tells. How long have you been with them?'

"'Less than six months, sir.'

"'How old are you?'

"'I am not seventeen yet. I was boy on board the Jane and William. We
were taken by the pirates on our way back from Rio, and all except me
killed or thrown overboard.'

"'And you bought your life by agreeing to sail with them, I suppose?'
the captain said contemptuously.

"'I did, sir,' I said; 'but I was the last they asked; all the others
had gone, and there warn't no one to back me up.'

"'Well, boy, you know what your fate will be,' the captain said;
'there's no mercy for pirates.'

"The next day the captain sent for me again, and I took heart a little,
for I thought if they had made up their minds to hang me they wouldn't
have questioned me.

"'Look here, lad,' the captain said; 'you are the youngest of the
prisoners, and less steeped in crime than any here, therefore I will
at once make you an offer. If you will direct us to the lair of the
pirates, I promise your life shall be spared.'

"'I don't know the latitude and longitudes sir,' I said, 'and I doubt if
any besides the captain and one or two others do, but I know pretty well
whereabout it is. We always set sail at night and came in at night, and
none was allowed on deck except the helmsman and two or three old hands
till morning; but when I was ashore and on duty at the lookout I noticed
three trees growing together just at the edge of the cliff at the point
where it was highest, two miles away from the entrance to the cove. They
were a big un and two little uns, and I feel sure if I were to see them
again I should know them.'

"'Very well,' the captain said, 'I shall make for port at once, and hand
over the prisoners to the Spanish authorities, then I will start on a
cruise with you, and see if we can find your trees.'

"From the description I could give him of the islands we passed after we
had been at sea a few hours, and the time it took us to sail from them
to some known points, the captain was