that when you were about to be thrown
overboard he suddenly interposed and ordered you to be taken below and
placed in his own cot, my instructions being to attend to your hurts at
once, before attending to even the most seriously injured of our own
people."

"Um! that is rather queer behaviour, isn't it?" I commented. And, as
Fonseca nodded, I continued: "And pray, when did this happen?"

"About five hours ago, immediately after the fight," was the answer. "I
have been attending to our own wounded during the interval, and have
only just finished with them. I am afraid I shall lose a good many of
them. Your men fought like fiends, and struck some very shrewd blows;
indeed there was a moment when I began to think that Captain Ricardo had
made a serious mistake in determining to run down and lay you aboard.
For a minute or two it looked very much as though our people were about
to give way before you, and indeed I believe they would have done so but
for the fact that your men grew discouraged and gave way when you fell.
But this will not do at all; here am I talking to you when it is of the
utmost importance that you should be kept perfectly quiet. Now, not
another word, if you please, but allow me to dress your wounds afresh."

And so saying he softly opened the cabin door and said something in a
low voice to someone who was apparently waiting outside. Then, closing
the door again, he returned to the side of my cot and began, with very
gentle fingers and a light touch, to remove the bandages that were
wrapped about my breast and shoulder.

"This," he said, "is your most serious injury--a pike wound; when did
you get it?"

"I have really not the slightest idea when or how I got it," I answered.
Then I stopped suddenly, for, as I spoke, I suddenly remembered that
when I sprang aboard the brig, at the head of the boarders, I was
conscious for a moment of having received a violent blow on the chest,
the memory of which, however, had instantly vanished in the excitement
of the fierce struggle that promptly ensued. "Yes," said I, "that must
have been it." And I related the occurrence just as it had happened.

Just then a low tap came on the cabin door, and in response to Fonseca's
bidding a young mulatto lad entered, bearing a large basin of warm
water, towels, bandages, lint, and other matters.

"Good! Now stand you there, Francois, and hold the basin while I foment
the wound," ordered Fonseca, who forthwith