ere too strong for them.
It was only those who had gained the deck which we had to contend with.
The others clung for a time, and unable to get up the sides, one by one
dropped into the water and went astern. In a minute, those on deck were
lying at our feet, and in a minute more, they were tossed overboard
after their companions; not, however, until one of them struck me
through the calf of the leg with his knife, as we were lifting him over
the gunwale. I do not mean to say that the Spaniards were not justified
in attempting to take the schooner; but still, as we had liberated them
but a few hours before, we felt that it was unhandsome and treacherous
on their part, and therefore showed them no quarter. There were two of
my men wounded as well as myself, but not severely, which was fortunate,
as we had no surgeon on board, and only about half a yard of diachylum
plaster in the vessel.

"Well out of that, sir," said Swinburne, as I limped aft. "By the Lord
Harry! it might have been a _pretty go_."

Having shaped our course for Barbadoes, I dressed my leg, and went down
to sleep. This time I did not dream of Celeste, but fought the Spaniard
over again, thought I was wounded, and awoke with the pain of my leg.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

PETER TURNED OUT OF HIS COMMAND BY HIS VESSEL TURNING BOTTOM UP--A
CRUISE ON A MAIN-BOOM, WITH SHARKS "EN ATTENDANT"--SELF AND CREW, WITH
SEVERAL FLYING FISH, TAKEN ON BOARD A NEGRO BOAT--PETER REGENERATES BY
PUTTING ON A NEW OUTWARD MAN.

We made Barbadoes without any further adventure, and were about ten
miles off the bay, steering with a very light breeze, and I went down
into the cabin expecting to be at anchor before breakfast the next
morning. It was just daylight, when I found myself thrown out of my
bed-place, on the deck, on the other side of the cabin, and heard the
rushing of water. I sprang up. I knew the schooner was on her beam
ends, and gained the deck. I was correct in my supposition: she had
been upset by what is called a white squall, and in two minutes would be
down. All the men were up on deck, some dressed, others, like myself,
in their shirts. Swinburne was aft; he had an axe in his hand, cutting
away the rigging of the main-boom. I saw what he was about; I seized
another, and disengaged the jaw-rope and small gear about the mast. We
had no other chance; our boat was under the water, being hoisted up on
the side to leeward. All this, however, was but