out a word and straightway took to evil courses. For
now the cup was dashed from his lips, seeing that having come into my
father's lands, he had brought it about that Lily was to be married to
him by might if no other means would serve. For even now a man can force
his daughter into marriage while she is under age, and Squire Bozard
was not one to shrink from such a deed, holding as he did that a woman's
fancies were of no account. But on this day, so great is the power of
gold, there was no more talk of her marrying any man except myself,
indeed her father would have held her back from such a thing had she
shown a mind to it, seeing that then Lily would have lost the wealth
which I had settled on her. But all talked loudly of my madness because
I would not abandon the chase of my enemy but chose to follow him to
the far Indies, though Squire Bozard took comfort from the thought that
whether I lived or died the money was still his daughter's. Only Lily
spoke up for me, saying 'Thomas has sworn an oath and he does well to
keep it, for his honour is at stake. Now I go to wait until he comes to
me in this world or the next.'

But all this is out of place, for many a year passed away before I heard
of these doings.

CHAPTER XI

THE LOSS OF THE CARAK

On the day after I had given my fortune and letters into the charge of
Captain Bell, I watched the 'Adventuress' drop slowly round the mole
of Cadiz, and so sad was I at heart, that I am not ashamed to confess
I wept. I would gladly have lost the wealth she carried if she had but
carried me. But my purpose was indomitable, and it must be some other
ship that would bear me home to the shores of England.

As it chanced, a large Spanish carak named 'Las Cinque Llagas,' or 'The
Five Wounds,' was about to sail for Hispaniola, and having obtained a
licence to trade, I took passage in her under my assumed name of d'Aila,
passing myself off as a merchant. To further this deception I purchased
goods the value of one hundred and five pesos, and of such nature as I
was informed were most readily saleable in the Indies, which merchandise
I shipped with me. The vessel was full of Spanish adventurers, mostly
ruffians of varied career and strange history, but none the less
good companions enough when not in drink. By this time I could speak
Castilian so perfectly, and was so Spanish in appearance, that it was
not difficult for me to pass myself off as one of their nation and thi