e spit itself had almost
melted out of sight in the growing distance. That was, at least, the end
of that; and before noon, to my inexpressible joy, the highest rock of
Treasure Island had sunk into the blue round of sea.

We were so short of men that every one on board had to bear a hand--only
the captain lying on a mattress in the stern and giving his orders; for,
though greatly recovered, he was still in want of quiet. We laid her head
for the nearest port in Spanish America, for we could not risk the voyage
home without fresh hands; and as it was, what with baffling winds and a
couple of fresh gales, we were all worn out before we reached it.

It was just at sundown when we cast anchor in a most beautiful
land-locked gulf, and were immediately surrounded by shore-boats full of
negroes, and Mexican Indians, and half-bloods, selling fruit and
vegetables, and offering to dive for bits of money. The sight of so many
good-humoured faces (especially the blacks), the taste of the tropical
fruits, and, above all, the lights that began to shine in the town, made
a most charming contrast to our dark and bloody sojourn on the island;
and the doctor and the squire, taking me along with them, went ashore to
pass the early part of the night. Here they met the captain of an English
man-of-war, fell in talk with him, went on board his ship, and, in
short, had so agreeable a time, that day was breaking when we came
alongside the _Hispaniola_.

Ben Gunn was on deck alone, and, as soon as we came on board, he began,
with wonderful contortions, to make us a confession. Silver was gone. The
maroon had connived at his escape in a shore-boat some hours ago, and he
now assured us he had only done so to preserve our lives, which would
certainly have been forfeit if "that man with the one leg had stayed
aboard." But this was not all. The sea-cook had not gone empty-handed. He
had cut through a bulkhead unobserved, and had removed one of the sacks
of coin, worth, perhaps, three or four hundred guineas, to help him on
his further wanderings.

I think we were all pleased to be so cheaply quit of him.

Well, to make a long story short, we got a few hands on board, made a
good cruise home, and the _Hispaniola_ reached Bristol just as Mr.
Blandly was beginning to think of fitting out her consort. Five men only
of those who had sailed returned with her. "Drink and the devil had done
for the rest," with a vengeance; although, to be sure, we were