here were who screamed high and shrill.

Save for myself and divers of the dead the poop lay deserted, but
forward such of the soldiers and mariners who yet lived were fighting
for the boats, and all was riot and confusion.

As I stared about me thus I espied Don Miguel lying among the wreckage
of a dismantled gun; his face was towards me and looked as I had seen
it an hundred times, save for a smear of blood upon his cheek. Even as
I gazed his eyes met mine full and square. For a moment he lay without
motion, then (his face a-twitch with the effort) he came slowly to his
elbow, gazed about him and so back to me again. Then I saw his hand
creep down to the dagger at his hip, to fumble weakly there--howbeit,
at the third essay he drew the blade and began to creep towards me.
Very slowly and painfully he dragged himself along, and once I heard
him groan, but he stayed not till he was come within striking distance,
yet was he sore wounded and so weak withal that he was fain to rest him
awhile. And ever his impassive eyes looked up into mine the while I
nerved myself to meet the blow unflinching (an it might be so). Once
more he raised himself, his arm lifted slowly, the dagger gleamed and
fell, its keen edge severing the cords that bound me, and with a sudden
effort I broke free and stood staring down into those impassive eyes as
one in a dream. Then, lifting a feeble hand, he pointed to the
tattered sails of the English ship hard by, and so, resting his head
upon his arm as one that is very weary, he sighed; and with the sigh I
think the life passed out of him.

Turning, I was upon the quarter-railing in a single leap, and, without
a glance at the red havoc behind me, I plunged over and down.

The sharp sting of the brine struck me like a myriad needle-points, but
the sweet cool of the waters was wondrous grateful to my sun-scorched
body as, coming to the surface, I struck out for the English ship
though sore hampered by my chain.

Presently coming beneath her lofty stern I found hanging therefrom a
tangle of ropes and cordage whereby I contrived to clamber aboard, and
so beheld a man in a red seaman's bonnet who sat upon the wreckage of
one of the quarter guns tying up a splinter-gash in his arm with hand
and teeth; perceiving me he rolled a pair of blue eyes up at me and
nodded:

"Welcome aboard, lad!" says he, having knotted the bandage to his
liking. "Be ye one as can understand good English?"

"Aye!" sa