the door; "are we wrecked after
all?" He uttered a cry of horror as he looked round.

"It might have been worse," the captain said; "at least we three have been
saved, though, in your case, you are far from deserving it. Now, look
about and do your duty. We want breakfast; see you get it, and quickly,
and I will say nothing more about that bottle of spirits you stole. Now,
what have you got here?"

"Two fine hams, captain, and some bunches of onions, and half a barrel of
flour, and some salt beef and a skin of wine."

"Not so bad," the captain said. "Well, make a fire and do us some slices
of ham; are there any biscuits left?"

"Yes, captain, there is half a barrel."

"Then we will make shift with a biscuit and the ham; but see that you are
quick about it, for this English officer and I are both famished."

"Where am I to make a fire, captain? the caboose is gone."

"Never mind about that; the iron plate is still fixed to the deck, make up
your fire on that. Look about in the other cabins and break up anything
that will supply you with wood. Now, senor, we will get off the after
hatch while this rascal is cooking breakfast, and have a look at the state
of things below."

"I am afraid we shall find most of the cargo cleared out," Stephen said.

"No, I do not think so. There is a strong bulkhead just below where we are
standing. The things you see on shore were in the small hold under the
cabin that was used for the ship's stores, while the main contains the
cargo. We got at the lazarette from a hatch under the table of the cabin.
It was not convenient, but it was an advantage having a separate place
when we were loaded up with hides, and there was no fear of the sailors
getting at the things. We did not carry a great store--five or six barrels
of flour, a few sacks of potatoes and onions, a barrel or two of biscuits,
and a couple of casks of salted meat, a barrel of coffee and one of
sugar."

"Well, then, in that case the sea has saved us the trouble of getting them
on shore, captain, for there are at least a dozen casks of one kind or
another on the beach. Now, really the principal things are the arms. If we
get up a case of a dozen muskets and a barrel of ammunition we shall do.
Of course, they will be at the bottom."

"Yes, above them are bales of soldiers' clothes. They will be too heavy
for us to lift out. They were heavy enough when they were dry, and the
three of us could not lift them out, sodden as t