ing through the other cabins. At last, they came to
the one in which Miss O'Regan and Polly were.

"`No! no! my fine fellows, you're not to go in there,' said Mr Rogers,
standing in front of the door, and holding his pistols ready to fire.
The other midshipmen did the same, and I held a firm grip of my cutlass,
determined to cut down the first of the ruffians who attempted to pass,
should the midshipmen's pistols miss fire.

"The Spaniards flourished their long knives and swore all sorts of
strange oaths in their own lingo, but didn't like to advance a step,
knowing that two or three of them would get a bullet through their
heads; we had the best of it as long as we had pistols and they had only
knives. Three or four fellows who had been hunting in the other cabins,
now, however, came up with pistols in their belts, and drawing them
swore that they would shoot us if we didn't drop our arms. It would
have gone hard with us, as there were but three boys and one grown man
opposed to a dozen or more of the Spaniards, when just at that moment
down came the fat officer who commanded the boats. We had heard him, as
I said, speak a little English to the colonel, and so Mr Rogers told
him that we were only wishing to protect the young lady from insult.

"`I appeal to your honour, sir, as a Spaniard and an officer, to assist
us in defending her, and I feel sure, sir, that you will do so,' said
he.

"`You are not mistaken, young sir,' answered the officer. `I will take
care that the lady is not insulted if she will remain in her cabin.'

"He then turned to the men and ordered them on deck. They went after a
little grumbling, each fellow laden with as much booty as he could
carry. He then told Mr Rogers to inform the young lady to prepare with
the rest of the passengers to go on board the corvette, as the brig and
sloop were to be sent back into the harbour.

"`Pray tell the officer, that if my father is to go I will gladly
accompany him,' she answered.

"In a few minutes Miss O'Regan and her black servant-girl, Polly, had
got ready and packed up a few things they thought they would be allowed
to carry.

"In a short time the officer who had gone on deck returned, and, making
a polite bow, said that he was sorry to inconvenience her, but that the
boats were manned and about to shove off for the corvette, then turning
to the midshipmen and me, ordered us to follow him on deck. We found
that the colonel had already be