And, true enough, just round the bows of a large tartan came a great launch, impelled by six oarsmen, and with a glitter of arms and lanterns shining out of her. Well, we had hardly time to gasp, when, with a great clamour at our sudden appearance, and all her crew starting up from their oars, the Spanish boat ran right into the starboard quarter of the shallop, hitting us a blow, which well nigh swamped the light craft; the Spaniards roaring out to curse our stupidity in not having got out of the way. For all this, we might have got clear off, they taking us, in the dark and confusion, for one of their own boats, had not Simon Radley shouted out involuntarily a great oath, cursing them for clumsy Spanish thieves, that knew not where they rowed. At this, a Spaniard aboard, who, it seems, knew the sound of our language, cried out—‘Los Ingleses—los Ingleses!’ and straightway our enemies, yelling and screeching like madmen, jumped up with intent to board us. Half-a-dozen pistol shots went off in a minute, as I shouted to my small crew to pull for their lives, and the boat started forward, scraping past the oars of the launch. Just then we gave a loud hurrah, as Englishmen love to do, to show their mettle. The bowman of the Spanish boat made a desperate leap, alighting with a surge on the stern of our shallop. Even while he was in the air, I started up to grapple with him. Our arms grasped each other’s doublets. I felt his hot breath on my cheek. We stood erect but for a moment, twining, as it were, around each other’s limbs, and then both of us, linked with brawny muscles together, fell splash into the sea, amid a great shout, which mingled in my ears with the rushing and gurgling of the water, into which we plunged. For a brief space I thought we must be drowned together, so desperate was the clutch with which we clung round each other’s throats; but rising in a minute to the surface, I found myself amid the blades of the Spanish oars, and, so clinging to them, I fought with my foeman, seeking to cast off his grip. At the same time I looked about for the shallop, but she was not to be seen, having evidently got off clear. And so, when the Spaniards grasped me to haul me into their boat, I fought and struggled desperately, that the shallop might have the greater start, in case they pursued her. At length, however, being mastered, I was dragged into the guard-boat, just as, half an hour before, the negro was dragged aboard the shallop, and cast violently down on my face in the stern sheets, while my hands were fastened behind me. This done, one of my captors gave me a kick, and told me to sit up, which I did, in the centre of a circle of ferocious-looking sailors and soldiers, who all began to question me at once, with the most savage oaths and curses; to all of which I replied never a word, but shook my head, as though quite ignorant of the language. So presently, the officer in command, thinking, no