n both sides at once, and commanded me
to head the expedition. Such an order terrified me not a little.

"What," I cried, "must I fight thus shamefully with my countrymen. If
I am taken prisoner what can I expect but the most shameful death. No,
Senor, I can never obey your orders."

"Who are you," he answered fiercely, "who think yourself so much
better than me and my men? Do we not expose ourselves to death every
hour of the day? My vessel shall never be taken, for when I can no
longer defend it I will blow it up. Obey me instantly or I will have
you shot in the twinkling of an eye."

"Do it," I coolly rejoined, "I do not fear death, but I will never
obey your orders."

"Well then," he cried furiously, "to death with him. Bandage his eyes.
Five minutes respite only, and let three men aim at his head and three
at his heart."

The pirates obeyed instantly, and I commended my soul to God. When the
five minutes had gone, the captain asked:

"Are you ready, helmsman?"

"Yes, Senor."

"You persist then in your obstinacy."

"Yes, Senor."

"Attention! Make ready! Fire!"

The men fired, but I remained unhurt; a burning cork flew in my face,
but made no wound. The captain had intended to frighten me, and his
men had only loaded with blank cartridges.

"Well, helmsman," he cried, "are you mortally wounded? Have you had
enough?"

"I am not wounded, Senor," I replied, "but I am not a boy to be
trifled with; if you are going to kill me, do it quickly, for I will
never disgrace myself by obeying your orders."

"So be it then," cried the pirate, foaming with rage; "bind him to the
mainmast; unbandage his eyes; let us have plenty of tinder; lay a
train of powder, and to the devil with him!"

His orders were obeyed; I closed my eyes and awaited death for the
second time. In about ten seconds I heard a terrible explosion, which
stunned me for some minutes. When I recovered my consciousness, I
felt a terrible pain in my lower limbs; my hands were bound, and my
clothes on fire.

"Shoot me upon the spot; why do you torture me so?"

But the captain and his men only laughed; and when my stockings were
entirely burnt, he gave orders to pour water over me and unbind me,
saying composedly, as if nothing had happened:

"You provoked me or I should not have done it; now go below and get
cured."

But the moment I was unbound, I fainted away, and when I came to
myself I lay upon a matrass in the cabin, and felt the most