itors," said
Lawrence. "But sit down, worthy mariner, and feel that you are in the
abode of a friend; eatables we do not require, but I keep a store of
some of the luxuries of life of which I know you will not refuse to
partake."

Saying this, he produced some pipes and tobacco, and a bottle of
Schiedam, a case of which, he told his guest, had come on shore near his
cave. Pedro partook of the latter very moderately, but he gladly
replenished his own tobacco-pouch, as his own supply of the fragrant
weed was running short. Lawrence then led him to the mouth of the cave.

"Mark the appearance of that line of broken water out there, which with
its whirlpools and eddies comes sweeping round from the north and
strikes the base of this point. Every object which once gets within its
power is driven against this point. All these things which you see
arranged round here have reached me in that way. What tales of
shipwreck do they tell! Often, too, I fancy the waifs cast up come from
far distant shores; strange, also, the water which rushes round the base
of this rock is quite warm at times, and I could believe that it still
retains the heat imparted to it by the sun of a southern clime. But all
these things are useless to you, you will say, and so it may be; but
these are the chests, and the bales, and the casks which Surly Grind and
I, between us, have hauled on shore. That reminds me I promised to show
you the contents of one of the chests; and here--," (he opened a
remarkably massive and well-made oaken sea-chest; the lid fitted so
well, that although it had evidently been in the water for some time,
none had found an entrance; Lawrence had contrived to force it open;
lifting the lid, he took from it a tin case, and out of the case
produced a document which he put into his companion's hand). "Read
that, and tell me what you think," he said; and while Pedro opened the
paper, and slowly perused it, he fixed his eyes earnestly on his
countenance.

The Spaniard read on very slowly, and not without great difficulty.

"It is in English," he said at length. "I cannot pretend to understand
it all, but from what I do comprehend, I see that if I could fulfil my
promise to my dead shipmate and captain, and see justice done to his
widow and child, I have greater reason than ever for hurrying back to
Spain to try and counteract the schemes of Father Mendez, and to oppose
the Marquis Don Anibal Villavicencio, who will of cour