how him that I was not to be trifled with. After his
impudent behaviour, he had no right to expect any courtesy from me, so I
let him find his own way on deck.

"`Well, senor,' I asked when he appeared, followed by his interpreter,
`how did you dare to fire at my boats?'

"Instead of stamping and swearing as he had done when on board his own
vessel, he was in a moment an altered being. Taking off his hat, he
stood before me humbly bowing, and with his hand on his heart, declared
that he much regretted what had occurred.

"`Indeed, senor, I had no notion that the boats I fired at were English,
and took you for pirates, about to attempt the recapture of the brig.'
This was said by means of the interpreter.

"`That's as big a bouncer as ever was spoken,' I heard some one behind
me growl out. I don't know whether the interpreter thought fit to
explain the polite remark to his superior.

"`As to that I have no means of judging, but how comes it that I find
one of your officers on board this vessel? She is evidently fitted for
the slave-trade, and as such she will most certainly be condemned,' I
observed.

"`Of course! no doubt about it,' answered the Spanish captain, quite
coolly, `she is not only a slaver but a pirate, and discovering such to
be the case I captured her, and I give you my word of honour that I am
about to take her into Saint Jago da Cuba for adjudication.'

"`Of course I cannot doubt the word of honour of a Spanish officer,' I
replied. `I must consequently leave you in possession, and I only hope
you will take care that she is condemned and her piratical career
stopped.'

"`Oh, of course, senor. I will take good care of that,' he answered,
again bowing, and putting his hand to his heart.

"I fancied that by the light of the lantern which fell on his
countenance, I could see a twinkle in his eyes as he said this, and I
felt strongly tempted to pitch him and his crew into their boat, cut the
brig's cable and make sail. However, as I was compelled to take his
word for the truth of what he asserted, I had nothing to do but to
trundle with my men into our boats, and pull back to the frigate.
Hemming approved of what I had done, though he agreed with me that it
was all humbug, and that the Spanish captain pretended to have captured
the brig for the sake of saving her from our claws. He determined
therefore to watch the two vessels, and we accordingly hove-to to see
what they would do.

"It was