perations himself, was the last to leave; he
lighted the train, and then followed us. We hadn't got many yards from
the beach when a loud report was heard, and up went a part of the fort,
quickly followed by the other portions, like the joints in a cracker;
and when the smoke and dust cleared off, the whole spot where the fort
had stood was a heap of ruins. It would take the Frenchmen a good many
weeks to repair the damage, if they should ever think it worth while to
make the attempt.

"The wind was so light that we were unable to get out of the bay; in the
evening we saw a boat coming off to us with a flag of truce. She
contained two of the principal inhabitants of the town, who brought with
them a cargo of fowls, and vegetables, and fruit, which they begged the
captain to accept as a mark of their gratitude for his having spared
their town. They added that another would shortly follow for the
corvette. Captain Tyrrell made a suitable speech, accepting their
present. The other boats soon arrived with the promised supply for us,
and as we took leave in the most friendly manner of the people who
brought it, no one would have supposed the sort of work we had been
engaged in during the morning.

"A land breeze enabled us to get to sea that evening, when soon
afterwards we parted company with the _Buckingham_, we shaping a course
back to Jamaica. We were all very jolly on board, for we had plenty of
provisions, and had unexpectedly come in for a nice little lump of
prize-money.

"I must tell you that Peter had become a great favourite on board, and
of this he himself seemed well aware, though he wisely never presumed on
it. I had, as I told you, been curious to find out how he was so well
acquainted with the haunts of the pirates. At last, one day, I asked
him, when I happened to be alone in the berth and he had come to get
something out of a locker.

"`Me tell you, Massa Tracy, for me now know berry well you my friend,'
he answered.

"`You're right, Peter,' I replied, `and you may be sure that from
nothing you say will you criminate yourself.'

"`Me only tell de truth on de honour of gentleman;' and Peter put his
hand on his heart as he had seen the Frenchmen do.

"`Heave ahead, Peter,' I said, `or your yarn may be out short.'

"`Berry well, Massa Tracy,' said Peter. `It happen dis way. I was
'board a French ship, _Les deux Amis_, bound from Bordeaux to Port au
Prince, when just as we 'bout twenty leag