o defend himself. In a moment they discovered him
and cast a shower of spears towards the entrance of the cave. The
Feringhee shouldered his loaded muskets in turn and picked the savages
off one at a time in quick succession, and despite their onsets he
managed for a time to keep them at bay. At last they gathered together
and made a desperate attack upon the cave, while the undaunted sailor
clubbed them with the butt of a musket as fast as they came upon him.
Then they withdrew and left him to pass the night watching and waiting
for the assault to be renewed, but this was not attempted. Next day one
of the savages appeared alone and unarmed, making signs which indicated
that the tribe desired peace.

"Not only was this goodwill maintained, but the chief of the fierce
islanders, full of admiration for the sailor's bravery, treated him with
marked respect, and when more than a year had passed, during which no
vessel apparently sighted the fluttering flag at the top of the broken
mast, the seaman became almost reconciled to his strange fate, and took
the chief's daughter as his wife. Watching from the beach one day, long
after this, the sailor saw a vessel, and climbing up the mast seized the
flag and raised frantic cries for rescue; for on seeing a ship once more
his old longing to leave the island at once returned. Anxiously he
watched, and then saw a flag run up to the mast of the ship, which told
him that his signal had been observed--then the dull roar of cannon rang
out over the waters. The vessel tacked and soon bore down towards the
island, the sailor madly waving the tattered flag and uttering
exclamations of delight, for he was almost beside himself at the near
prospect of rescue.

"The vessel was brought to at some little distance from the island and a
boat sent out, which was carefully steered through the breakers.
Forgetting the treasure which he had concealed in the cave, and the
friendly treatment which he had so long received from the tribe who knew
of its whereabouts, the sailor rushed into the surf, and throwing
himself into the boat bade the men pull back to the ship. When he was
standing on the deck of the latter he recognised fully his own position.
Above him floated the Spanish flag, fierce glances of hatred from all
the crew were turned upon him, and to complete his discomfiture the
commander who came forward to meet him was none other than Don Luego, of
whom every Feringhee sailor had heard.

"C