Numbers of people came to look at them in this place, as though they were wild beasts or curiosities; and when they heard they had been starved for more than a year, they brought quantities of chicken and all kinds of good things for them to eat. John Byron then began to feel more comfortable. He was always ready to make a meal, and used to carry food in his pockets so that he need not wait a second for it if he felt hungry. Even the captain owned that he ate so much that he felt quite ashamed of himself. In a little time an old Jesuit priest came to see them. He did not come because he was sorry for them, but because he had heard from the Indian Cacique that they had things of great value about them. The priest began by producing a bottle of brandy, and gave them all some to open their hearts. Captain Cheap told him he had nothing, not remembering that Martini had seen his gold repeater watch; but at the same time he said that Mr. Campbell had a silver watch, which he at once ordered him to make a present of to the priest. Soon after the Spanish governor sent for them to be brought to Chaco, where they were very well treated by the people. Whilst here John Byron was asked to marry the niece of a very rich old priest. The lady made the suggestion through her uncle, saying that first she wished him to be converted, and then he might marry her. When the old priest made the offer, he took John Byron into a room where there were several large chests full of clothes. Taking from one of them a large piece of linen, he told him it should be made up into shirts for him at once if he would marry the lady. The thought of new shirts was a great temptation to John Byron, as he had only the one in which he had lived ever since he had been wrecked. However, he denied himself this luxury, and excused himself for not being able to accept the honour of the lady's hand. On _this_ occasion he managed to speak Spanish sufficiently well to make himself understood. In January 1742 they were sent on to Valparaiso as English prisoners. Only Captain Cheap and Mr. Campbell were recognised as officers, as they had saved their commissions, and they were sent to St. Jago, while John Byron and Mr. Hamilton were kept in prison. However, when they were released they were permitted to rejoin the others at St. Jago, and found them living with a Scotch physician named Don Patricio Gedd. When Dr. Gedd heard of the four English prisoners, he had begged the President to allow them to live at his house. This was granted, and during the two years they lived there with him, he treated them most hospitably, and would hear of no return being made for his kindness. Mr. Campbell changed his religion while they were at St. Jago, and left his companions. At the end of two years the President sent for them, and told them that they were at liberty to leave the country in a French ship bound for Spain.