ainly have gone mad at that
time if it had not been for my faithful companion, Pharaoh Nanjulian,
who did his best to cheer and support me, and got no reward for it but
an increase of blows and stripes from Nunez, and venomous curses from
Frey Bartolomeo.

It was one of Nunez's chief delights at this period to come down upon
our deck and goad me into a rage that closely approached madness. Thus
after exposing me to numerous insults, he would ask me what I proposed
to do when I reached England again, and what fate I was keeping in store
for my cousin Stapleton.

"It must afford you the most exquisite delight of which the human mind
is capable, Master Salkeld," he said one day, when he had tormented and
plagued me beyond endurance, "to sit here in these pleasant quarters and
think of your cousin at home. He hath doubtless entered upon the family
estates and married the lady whose affections you stole from him, and
maybe he hath by this time told her of the trick he played upon you, and
they laugh at it together."

And at that I cursed him before God and man and wept bitter tears, for I
was thoroughly broken, and had no more heart in me than a child.

"So you are broken at last?" said he, and struck me across the mouth
and went away.

And then I wished to die, for I was indeed broken; but Pharaoh did his
best to console me and bade me be of good cheer, for we should triumph
yet.

Now the next day, our voyage having then lasted some nine or ten weeks,
we were aware of a sail bearing down upon us from the south-east, and
before long it became evident that this ship was chasing us, whereupon
there was much to-do on board the Santa Filomena, and our overseers
urged us to renewed exertions with continual lashing of their whips.
Nevertheless, within three hours the ship had overhauled us, and from
our post we saw flying from her mast-head the flag of England.

CHAPTER XVII.

FRANCIS DRAKE.

Now, if you can bring yourself to imagine what he feels like who, having
remained in dire and horrible distress for many weary days, suddenly
sees salvation coming to him, you will know what we felt as we gazed
through the port-hole and saw that noble English ship draw near with the
English flag flying at her mast-head. If you have ever been in like
peril yourself you will understand it better. A man condemned to die and
suddenly reprieved; another suddenly released from awful slavery; a
third suffering from heavy sorrow a