the bottom.

"Holy Mother! you make more noise zan a sheep in action," grumbled the
startled officer, as I landed at his feet. "Vat for you come down ze
ladder zat vay?"

Rubbing my numerous bruises energetically, I contented myself with
staring up at him as if completely dazed by my fall. Reading in his
amused countenance no symptom of awakening suspicion I ventured a quick
glance at my new surroundings. We were in what appeared a large
unfurnished room, with doors of all sizes opening in every direction,
while I could perceive a narrow entry, or passageway, extending toward
the after part of the vessel. The roof, formed of the upper deck, was
low, upheld by immense timbers, and the apartment, nearly square, was
dimly flooded by the sparse light sifting down through the single
hatch-opening above, so that, in spite of its large dimensions, it had
a cramped and stuffy appearance. The vast butt of the mainmast arose
directly in front of me, and, upon a narrow bench surrounding it, a
dozen soldiers were lounging, while near the entrance to the
passageway, scarcely more than a shadow in that dimness, stood a
sentry, stiff and erect, with musket at his shoulder. They were mostly
slightly built, dark-featured men, attired in blue and white uniforms,
the worse for wear, and were all laughing at my crazy entrance. No
doubt my coming afforded some relief to their tiresome, dull routine.
While lying there, apparently breathless from my fall, my brains
effectively muddled, a young officer advanced hastily from out the
gloom to inquire into so unusual an uproar.

"What is all this noise about?" he questioned sharply, striding toward
us. "Ah, Gonzales; whom have you here? Another bird to add to our
fine collection?"

"If so, it must be a rare blackbird, Senor Francisco," returned my
friend, vainly endeavoring to recover his customary gravity. "By Saint
Cristobal! I have not laughed so heartily for a year past as at this
poor black fool. Faith, I sought to enlist him in the service of His
Most Christian Majesty, yet his method of coming down a companion
ladder convinced me he sadly lacks the necessary qualifications for a
sailor. Hast seen aught of the Captain here below?"

"Ay, comrade, thou wilt find him aft. He hath just had speech once
more with the chief rebel, the graybeard they call Lafreniere, and was
in raging temper when last we met. _Caramba_! he even called me an
ass, for no more serious fault, forso