s of their towns by the
conflagration of Bassa-Cove.

Next day, my own men, and the volunteers from our Spanish, Portuguese
and American vessels, were sent on board, eight of them bearing marks
of the fray, which fortunately proved neither fatal nor dangerous. The
shameful flight of my comrades not only gave heart to the blacks, but
spread its cowardly panic among the resident colonists. The
settlement, they told me, was in danger of attack, and although my
wound and the disaster both contributed to excite me against the
fugitives, I did not quit the San Juan without reinforcing Governor
Johnson with twenty muskets and some kegs of powder.

I have dwelt rather tediously perhaps on this sad occurrence--but I
have a reason. Governor Findley's memory was, at this time, much
vilified on the coast, because that functionary had accepted the boon
of a passage in the Brilliant, which was falsely declared to be "a
Spanish slaver." There were some among the overrighteous who even went
so far as to proclaim his death "a judgment for venturing on the deck
of such a vessel!"

As no one took the trouble to investigate the facts and contradict the
malicious lie, I have thought it but justice to tell the entire story,
and exculpate a gentleman who met a terrible death in the bold
prosecution of his duty.

CHAPTER LVII.

I took the earliest opportunity to apprise Don Pedro Blanco of the
mishap that had befallen his factor's limb, so that I might receive
the prompt aid of an additional clerk to attend the more active part
of our business. Don Pedro's answer was extremely characteristic. The
letter opened with a draft for five hundred dollars, which he
authorized me to bestow on the widow and orphans of Governor Findley,
if he left a family. The slaver of Gallinas then proceeded to comment
upon my Quixotic expedition; and, in gentle terms, intimated a decided
censure for my immature attempt to chastise the negroes. He did not
disapprove my _motives_; but considered any revengeful assault on the
natives unwise, unless every precaution had previously been taken to
insure complete success. Don Pedro hoped that, henceforth, I would
take things more coolly, so as not to hazard either my life or his
property; and concluded the epistle by superscribing it:

"To
"_Senor_ POWDER,
"_at his Magazine_,
"NEW SESTROS."

* * * * *

The slug that struck the upper part of my f