"Yes, sir," said I, resolving to be frank with him; "on board the _Rainbow_." "You are attached to your captain, and would wish to do him a service?" he added. "Yes, sir," said I. "What do you want me to do?" "Tell him that all his people have taken the oaths and joined the confederacy," he answered, looking at me hard. "I don't know what oaths, or what else you mean, sir," I answered. "I cannot tell him anything that is not true." "What? a ship-boy with a conscience?" he exclaimed, bursting into a fit of laughter. "I tell you, lad, you must do as you are bid." "Yes, sir, I'll do what my captain tells me," I replied, simply. "But for the matter of saying anything to deceive him, I won't do it. I'll tell him the truth, and then he'll know how to act." He looked at me very hard for a moment or so, and then rang a bell by his side. From what he had said, I hoped that the captain was safe and well. The same man who had brought me in appeared. "Send Diego here to take care of this youngster, and bring in one of the other men, the tall one--I will try what I can make of him," he said; and the white man disappeared. Directly afterwards, a sturdy black man came in. Captain Ralph pointed to me. He seized me by the collar, and held me a prisoner on one side of the room. In a short time Peter was brought in. "You find life and liberty sweet, my man?" said the old gentleman, addressing him. "I've no objection to either," answered Peter sturdily. "You've been well-treated since you've been here?" said Captain Ralph. "I've no reason to complain," was Peter's laconic reply. "Very well; you may judge that I do not wish you ill," observed Captain Ralph. "Now, I won't conceal it from you, we have a body of people on this island who don't own any laws except those of our own making. A large number of them are Spaniards, and I want a few honest Englishmen, who will stick by one another, to join us. What do you say? Are you inclined to join us? Your captain will, I have no doubt, and so will this lad and the rest of your shipmates." I shook my head. Captain Ralph did not see me, but the negro did, and gave me a cuff on the head in consequence. I had not fancied that the negro understood English, but from this circumstance I have no doubt he did. Peter gave a hitch to his trousers when the question was put to him, and then vehemently scratched his head. "Look ye here, sir," he answered in a firm voice, which showed that he had made up his mind how to act, "I am much obliged for the treatment I and my shipmates have received since we came to this place, barring the being kept inside a sort of prison, so to speak; but you must just understand, sir, that I've been brought up to be an honest man, and an honest man I hope to remain to the end of my days; and so, as to taking any oath to turn pirate, or in any way to associate with those who do, I'll not do it. So now you've my answer."