ast adrift by the crew of the galleon which he had commanded, Don
Luego had been rescued and carried to Spain by a trading vessel, by
which he chanced to be observed after suffering terrible privations at
sea. He made his way into the King's presence, told his own tale of the
mutiny of his sailors, and persuaded the monarch to put him in command
of a fast vessel with which to return and, hunting them down, to restore
the great treasure to the Spanish coffers. Strange rumours were heard by
him when again in the southern seas of the galleon having been seen
flying before the wind with another vessel pursuing it. After cruising
about for a considerable time he had quite unknowingly come within sight
of the island where the English vessel and the Spanish galleon had both
been wrecked.

"Pretending that hostilities had long ceased between the two nations,
Don Luego endeavoured to get the rescued man to relate the story of his
shipwreck; but the seaman, conscious of his danger, gave evasive
answers, and asked to be landed upon the island once more. The
Spaniard's suspicions were aroused, and he determined to keep the sailor
on board as his prisoner while a number of men were sent ashore to see
if anything could be discovered. They soon come back and reported that
upon the beach they had seen portions of wreckage which had evidently
formed part of a Spanish galleon. The Feringhee seaman was strictly
questioned by the commander, but at first would say nothing. Stung at
length by Don Luego's taunts, he pointed towards the tattered flag which
still floated from the broken mast, and declared that it waved over a
treasure belonging no longer to Spain but to him.

[Illustration: "CUTTING HIS WAY THROUGH THE SPANIARDS."]

"Don Luego responded by threatening the hardy sailor with death unless
he pointed out where the contents of the lost galleon were concealed.
The seaman suddenly sprang forward, wrenched the sword from his
interrogator's hand, and, cutting a way through the surprised Spaniards,
flung himself headlong from the vessel's side, and struck out for the
shore.

"'Shoot him, men!' cried Don Luego, as the sailor's head emerged for a
minute from the water, and instantly a volley from a hundred muskets
whistled round the swimmer's head. He dived at once and swam under
water, only coming up to take breath occasionally. A second and a third
time the muskets were discharged, and then the savages--who had
meanwhile gathered in