ly concealed in his clothing, a number of small saws, of
exceeding fine temper and sharpness. They would cut through our
manacles as a knife cuts through wood. These he gave out to some of the
slaves, and on the night arranged they were to cut the links of their
iron manacles and pass the tools on to the others. This would, of
course, leave the iron rings round our wrists and ankles, but we should
be free to move and fight; and after we had won the ship we could get
the rings off at our leisure. The saws were given out one by one, the
greatest care being taken that they were not discovered, and immediately
after dark on the eventful night we began to cut our fetters, the galley
being then under sail and the oars laid in. By midnight we were ready,
and waiting for the signal. It came as a shrill whistle from Leirya's
lips. At the sound we all swarmed up on deck; and, as most of the
officers and seamen were asleep below, we quickly overcame the watch.
We gave no quarter, knowing that none would be given to us, and we took
no prisoners. Then, going to the companion-hatches, we cried `Fire!'
and as our former masters came running up in their shirts, they were
seized and flung overboard. None of them suspected any plot, and the
vessel was soon in our hands.

"We then took counsel among ourselves to elect officers, and determine
upon our future movements. Jose Leirya was, of course, elected captain,
and, for some reason that I cannot make out, I was chosen for first
mate. Then for our plans. We were about in the middle of the North
Atlantic, perhaps a little more than half-way to the West Indian
Islands; so we determined to run there, take a ship on our way, if we
could, and if not, capture one in the first port we could reach--for the
galley was of little use to us for our purposes. Ah! if I had but
known, if I could but have foreseen what was to happen in the future,
what deeds I should be called upon to do, rather would I have suffered
death by torture than have joined in the mutiny! But I did not then
know that Jose Leirya intended to become a pirate, or that he meditated
those awful atrocities that have made men curse his name, and swear to
hunt him down and make his end worse than a dog's! At length, when the
ship had been ours for a matter of fifteen days, and was approaching the
islands, our lookout one afternoon reported a large ship coming up from
the westward. Our hearts leaped with anticipation, but