hey were put aboard
the galleys, to end their lives toiling at the oars.

"Now, I and my companions have crossed the Great Water for the express
purpose of finding and rescuing my brother--and incidentally his English
fellow prisoners--from the Spaniards; and, accordingly, we first went to
San Juan, where I learned that the seventeen survivors of the attack had
been sent to Nombre. Therefore from San Juan we came to _Nombre_, where
I learn that the seventeen were sent to Panama. At my request the
Governor of Nombre sent a message to the Governor of Panama, informing
the latter that Nombre was in my possession, and that I required the
surrender of the seventeen English prisoners as ransom for the town.
But the Governor of Panama, instead of finding and returning the
Englishmen, has dispatched every soldier from Panama to Nombre, to drive
us out of the city. Learning this, and knowing that it would be
impossible for us to hold Nombre in the face of the overwhelming force
that was being sent against us, I decided to quit the city; but I
accompanied the announcement of this determination to the Governor of
Nombre with certain threats of return which I believe will cause him to
retain those soldiers--the whole garrison of Panama, you understand--in
Nombre for a full month, or perhaps longer.

"Panama, you will perceive, is thus left defenceless; and it is my idea
to at once make a dash across the isthmus, seize the biggest, or at
least the most formidable, ship in the harbour, exact from the Governor,
by threats or even force, if possible, full information respecting the
galleys aboard which the Englishmen have been shipped, and then go in
search of them until I have found them and liberated my countrymen.

"You can help me in this project, if you will, in the following manner.
My ship lies at anchor in the little cove of which you know, not far
from here. I shall be obliged to leave her there, since I intend to
take my entire company with me; and I propose to leave her in your
charge. I shall dismantle her, stowing her spars, sails, gear and
ordnance below, and roofing her over with a thatch of palm leaves to
protect her hull from the sun and weather, and if you will lend me a few
of your people, they will be helpful in that part of my work. Then,
when that is done, you can further help me by furnishing me with a guide
who will lead me to Panama, and by lending me either mules or men who
will help me and my people t