e as a rule by no means particular as to the
colour of the flag that they fought or sailed under, often hoisting the
first ensign that happened to come to hand.

But Spanish or French, the vessel on board which I now found myself
could scarcely be other than one of those that we had engaged earlier in
the afternoon; and if so, I was in the hands of the enemy--an enemy, be
it said, that, if report spoke truly, showed but scant mercy to such of
its legalised opponents as happened to fall into his hands. Yet this
scarcely tallied with the evident care that had been taken of me, and
the exceedingly comfortable--not to say luxurious--quarters wherein I
now found myself.

I was parched with thirst, and looked round the state-room for some
liquid wherewith I might quench it. There was none; but I now observed
a small mahogany shelf, close to the head of the bunk, which had
hitherto escaped my notice, and upon it stood a small silver hand-bell,
quaint of shape, and elegantly adorned with _repousse_ work. With
considerable pain and giddiness I contrived to turn my body far enough
round to seize the bell and ring it; in instant response to which the
state-room door opened--revealing a glimpse of a small but elegantly--
furnished cabin--and a young mustee lad, clad only in a white shirt
thrown open at the neck, and white drill trousers girt to his slender
figure by a crimson sash, entered, and demanded in Spanish--

"Can I do anything for you, senor?"

"What is your name, my lad?" said I, answering his question with
another.

"I am called Pedro, senor."

"Well then, Pedro," said I, "you can do two things for me, if you will.
In the first place you can get me something to drink, if you will be so
kind; and, in the next, you can tell me the name of this ship and her
captain."

"I will willingly do both, senor, with pleasure. The drink first,"
answered the lad, with a bright smile that disclosed an array of small
and beautifully regular, ivory-white teeth. And, turning on his bare
heel, he retired as noiselessly as he had entered, only to reappear, a
moment later, with a tumbler in one hand, and a large glass jug full to
within an inch of the brim with lemonade, upon the surface of which
floated two or three slices of the fruit and a curl of the rich golden
green rind. He filled and handed me a bumper, which I instantly drained
and begged for another. The lad laughed, and handed me a second
tumblerful, which I also dr