rising a few stragglers, from whom they extorted the
information that a considerable number of the conspirators were making
merry in the house of the officer, where they had taken their comrade
prisoner. They immediately proceeded to this house, where they
commenced a most destructive fire through the doors and windows, not
taking any aim or making any discrimination between friend or foe.
They then entered, killed the wounded, and took some prisoners.
Unfortunately the _good old host_ had received two serious shots, and
now sent to the captain to request him to send to his relief the
Englishman in whom he placed such confidence. With regard to the
assassin, he had been found bound hand and foot, but uninjured, and
having been provided with a passport, had proceeded to Havana.

"Helmsman," cried the captain, now entering the cabin, "it can't be
helped. You must go on shore, and look after the old gentleman's
wounds, for he is my best friend, and I cannot treat him with too much
consideration. Put a mattrass into the boat," he continued, "that he
may lie comfortably upon it, and when you get to land carry him as
carefully as possible."

They let me down into the boat in an arm-chair, laid me upon a
mattrass, put a cushion under my head, and covered me with a silken
coverlet. The moon was just rising, and it was about one o'clock. The
current was against us, and we were almost an hour in reaching the
shore. After we had taken something to eat and drink in a little
ale-house, not ten steps from the beach, I was placed on a bamboo
litter, furnished with an abundance of soft cushions, and put upon a
horse. We journeyed for about an hour through a high mahogany forest,
until we arrived comfortably at a small town, and before the door of
the mansion of Don Toribios, as the conscientious official was called.
I immediately examined the old man's wounds, which proved to be not at
all dangerous, extracted the balls without difficulty, and left him to
the care of his wife and daughter. We returned slowly to our boat, and
reached the schooner before sunrise.

The sailors rendered an account of their expedition, and each
received as a reward a double allowance of brandy, and they were told
that the prisoners they had taken had been tortured and then shot. The
captain asked me particularly concerning Don Toribios, and as I was
able to give him favorable replies, he was greatly rejoiced, and
loaded me with praises.

"You must go o