p of eighteen guns, designed for the use of the patriots
in South America.

"Accepting the offer, I left England early in 1816 for Valparaiso, and
cruised there for sixteen months, taking many prizes. While on board of
one of our prizes I was taken prisoner, and carried into Callao, where I
and my comrades were exposed to the gaze and insults of the people.
Here, for many months, I walked about the streets with fifty pounds
weight of iron attached to me, on a spare diet of beans and Chili
peppers, with a stone at night for a pillow. We were made to carry
stones to repair the forts of the place. There were seventeen of us.
Five or six of our party died of fever and exposure to the sun, after
which our guardians became careless about us. We managed to get rid of
our irons by degrees, and at length were left to shift for ourselves.
Soon after, with some of my comrades, I escaped on board a vessel in the
bay, and succeeded in getting put on board our own vessel again, which
was still cruising in these seas.

"Entering Valparaiso in the latter part of 1817, I had now an
opportunity of forwarding about 140 pounds to my poor mother in England,
who was sorely in need of help at the time. Some time after that I went
with a number of men in a launch to attempt the cutting out of a large
merchant ship from Cadiz. We were successful, and my share of the
prize-money came to about 200 pounds, one hundred of which I also sent
to my mother. After this I took a situation as prize-master on board a
vessel commanded by a Frenchman. Deserting from it, I sought to
discover a road to Guayaquil through the woods, where I suffered great
hardships, and failed in the attempt."

The adventurer paused a few seconds, and looked earnestly in Adams's
countenance.

"I am not justifying my conduct," he said, "still less boasting."

"Right you are, Nobbs," said Adams, with an approving nod. "Your line
of life won't stand justification according to the rule of God's book."

"I know it, Adams; I am merely telling you a few of the facts of my
life, which you have a right to know from one who seeks an asylum among
your people. Well, returning to the coast, I went on board an English
whaler, by the captain of which I was kindly treated and landed at
Talcahuans. I had not been long there, when, at midnight, on the 7th
May, in the year 1819, the Chilian garrison, fifteen in number, was
attacked by Benevades and his Indian troops. A number of