at length her hull came in sight, both Boxall
and Ben were of opinion that she was foreign,--either French or Spanish.
Boxall thought that she was the latter; and indeed we soon clearly made
out the Spanish ensign flying from her peak.

"I will get a signal ready," said Ben, taking off his shirt and
fastening it to the end of the oar which had served as a mast. It was
still too evident, however, that we were not seen.

"If that ship were to stand on an hour longer, or even less, she would
run right on the reef not far to the southward of this," observed
Boxall. "It will be a mercy if those on board see us, as we will be
able to warn them of their danger. Let us, at all events, do our best
to get up to her."

Cheering each other on, we paddled away as vigorously as we could.

"I think she will see us now. Let us hoist our signal," cried Ben; and
taking up the oar which lay along the raft, he waved it, with his shirt
at the end, as high as he could. Some minutes more passed. The ship
had got so far to the southward that we were directly on her beam. Ben
waved the signal frantically; and uniting our voices, we shouted as
loudly as we could.

"I am afraid our voices don't reach her in the teeth of the wind,"
observed Boxall.

"But our signal is seen, though," cried Ben; and as he spoke the ship's
head was turned towards us, while we energetically paddled on to meet
her.

In a short time she was up to us, and we got alongside; ropes were hove
to us (one of which Ben made fast to the raft), and several men came
down the side to assist us in climbing up. Among the most active were
two negroes--one a tall, powerful man, but about as ugly a mortal as I
ever set eyes on; the other, a young, pleasant-looking lad, though his
skin was as black as jet. The two seized me by the arms and dragged me
up, though I could have scrambled on deck without their help.

"Muchas gracias," (Many thanks), I said.

"I thought you English officer," said the young black.

"So I am," I answered. "How is it that you speak English?"

"I served aboard English man-of-war, and knew that you were English
officer directly I saw you," he answered.

This was said almost before I placed my feet on the deck--where we were
all soon standing, looking around us. The ship was apparently a
man-of-war; but there were a number of soldiers and people of all ranks,
evidently passengers, walking the deck, besides the officers.

"I say, Charlie,