comrades had assisted to the water-side. The scene was lighted up by
the blaze of several wooden stores and other buildings. Among them was
Captain Ralph's cottage. The lights from the flaming mass fell on a
large body of Spaniards, who had rallied, and were advancing rapidly
towards us. "It matters not," shouted some of our new companions, with
a laugh of derision; "they'll find no boats to pursue us; and when they
get back to their homes, they'll discover that not a few of their gold
ingots are gone. Hurrah! hurrah! Give way, my lads, though! They'll
bring their guns to bear upon us if we do not make good way down the
creek." We had all jumped into the nearest boats at hand, without any
respect to order, and the stoutest hands had seized the oars. I found
myself in the boat with my captain and Captain Ralph. The old man lay
in the stern-sheets supported in my captain's arms. He still lived, but
he appeared to be badly wounded. Neither spoke for some time. The
captain told me to take the yoke-lines, and to steer according to his
directions. Peter pulled one of the oars, and our boat took the lead;
but, to my surprise, my captain seemed to know all the turnings of the
creek as well as any of the pirates.

We had got but a short distance when our opponents reached the side of
the water, when, finding no boats, they began rapidly firing away at us.
Though the light from the blazing buildings fell on us, it did not
enable them to judge accurately of the distance we were from them, and
most of their shot went over our heads. Though we had plenty of arms in
the boat, we did not attempt to return their fire; but some of our
lawless companions gave vent to their anger in shouts and execrations.

Wild as the scene had hitherto been, it was yet further heightened by a
loud explosion, which sent fragments of burning embers falling even
around the boats. At the sound, Captain Ralph raised his head and
looked towards the village. "They have lost their expected prize, and
many of them have received what they little expected!" he exclaimed,
with that peculiar low laugh in which I had before heard him indulge.
He had for the moment forgotten his condition. He was, I saw clearly,
desperately wounded. The exertion of moving and speaking was greater
than he could bear, and he sunk back into the captain's arms.

The bullets were all this time flying thickly about the boats, though we
were rapidly increasing our distanc