thoroughly with
the vessel, and to secure her papers, arms, and ammunition, and any
valuables that might be on board her. Roger and Harry, having had a
brief chat, followed Mr Cavendish down the companion-ladder, and found
themselves in the vessel's main cabin. This was most beautifully fitted
up, evidently with the spoils which had been taken out of her numerous
captures; but beyond the confines of the captain's cabin the entire
vessel was filthily dirty, eloquently testifying to the objectionable
habits of the pirates; and everywhere they went they encountered
significant traces of the recent furious combat, in the shape of
splintered timbers, riven planking, blood splashes, gashes in the
wood-work from sword and axe-blade, holes made by cannon-shot--havoc and
destruction reigned supreme. But even this could not disguise the
barbaric splendour of the fittings and furniture of the ship. Rich
silken curtains were hung anywhere and everywhere where they could be
fastened; thick carpets from Turkey and Persia and India were strewn
wholesale on the soiled planking. Every available space on wall or
bulkhead was ornamented with some trophy or another. Stars of pistols,
swords, hangers, boarding-axes, and pikes were hung wherever there was
room for them. Roger noticed some pieces of exquisite and priceless old
tapestry beside the carriage of one of the main-deck guns, that had
probably served as a curtain, but was now torn down, trampled upon,
smeared with blood, and blackened with powder smoke. The officers of
the vessel had evidently each enjoyed a cabin to himself, furnished
according to the occupant's taste; and in every one there were articles
of enormous value, while the silken cushions, thick-piled carpets, and
dainty coverlets to the bunks might have led one to suppose that the
cabins had been inhabited by delicate ladies rather than by savage
pirates, to whom murder was an almost everyday occurrence. They all
exhibited, however, as might have been expected from such a crew, the
most execrable taste in arrangement. All the colours of the rainbow
were combined together, and every article seemed totally out of place in
all the apartments save that belonging to Jose Leirya himself.

The cabin belonging to the captain was situated at the stern of the
vessel, and for windows had two large openings leading out on to a
little stern gallery, where Jose could walk in privacy and be in the
open air. This cabin had re