ect us to be so lucky, and it's true enough that
he has plenty of work for the ship's company, now that he has to turn
everything in afresh. As for the prisoners, I think we had better run
close in, and give them two of our boats to take them on shore. At all
events, we must be rid of them, and not be obliged to have one eye aloft
and the other down the hatchway, as we must now."

This advice corresponded with my own ideas, and I ran in-shore, gave
them the stern boat and one of the larger ones, which held them all, and
sent them away, leaving only one boat for the schooner, which was
hoisted up on the starboard chess-tree. It fell a dead calm as we sent
away the prisoners; we saw them land and disappear over the rocks, and
thought ourselves well rid of them, as they were twenty-two in number,
most of them Spaniards, and very stout, ferocious-looking fellows.

It continued calm during the whole day, much to our annoyance, as I was
very anxious to get away as soon as I could; still I could not help
admiring the beauty of the scenery--the lofty mountains, rising abruptly
from the ocean, and towering in the clouds, reflecting on the smooth
water, as clear as in a looking-glass, every colour, every tint,
beautifully distinct. The schooner gradually drifted close in-shore,
and we could perceive the rocks at the bottom, many fathoms deep. Not a
breath of wind was to be seen on the surface of the water for several
miles round, although the horizon in the offing showed that there was a
smart breeze outside.

Night came on, and we still lay becalmed. I gave my orders to
Swinburne, who had the first watch, and retired to my standing bed-place
in the cabin. I was dreaming, and I hardly need say who was the object
of my visions. I thought I was in Eagle Park, sitting down with her
under one of the large chestnut trees, which formed the avenue, when I
felt my shoulder roughly pushed. I started up--"What is the matter?
Who's that--Swinburne?"

"Yes, sir. On with your clothes immediately, as we have work on hand, I
expect;" and Swinburne left the cabin immediately.

I heard him calling the other men who were below. I knew that Swinburne
would not give a false alarm. In a minute I was on deck, where I found
he had just arrived, and was looking at the stern of the schooner.

"What is that, Swinburne?" said I.

"Silence, sir. Hark! don't you hear them?"

"Yes," replied I; "the sound of oars."

"Exactly, sir; depend