he past week or two had been of the very shortest.
And when we had thus refreshed ourselves, we began to discuss our
situation anew.

"That you have escaped with your lives and without the torture of the
lash," said our friend, "is due to my continued exertions on your
behalf. But now, gentlemen, I am powerless to do more for you."

Then we once more thanked him for doing so much, saying that we should
always hold his kindness in remembrance, and should ever pray for his
happiness and prosperity.

"And if," continued I, "your honor can suggest any means by which we can
escape from these galleys and regain our own country, we shall be
further beholden to you. For, indeed, we have friends in England who
must be anxious about us, if they be not already in despair of ever
seeing us again."

"I fear there is small chance of your escape," said he, shaking his
head. "Men that are chained to the oar cannot well escape. I pray God
that you may survive your two years of that work--it is not all that
do."

"Sir," said Pharaoh, "do you know where we shall be taken?"

"Nay," answered he, "that I cannot say. Most men who lie under your
sentence are shipped to Spain, and are there placed in the galleys. The
same fate is probably in store for you."

"God help us if they take us to Spain!" said Pharaoh. "We shall have to
go through it all over again."

However, it seemed almost certain that this would be our fate, and as
nothing that we could say or do could alter it, there was naught for it
but to submit ourselves with such cheerfulness as we could muster. But
here the old Senor gave us some additional comfort, for it seemed that
his special purpose in coming to us that night was to give us the names
of friends of his in certain towns and ports of Spain, to whom we might
apply in case of our being in their neighborhood.

"You are something more than likely to be finally dismissed at Cadiz or
at Seville," said he, "and it will be none the worse if you know where
to turn for a friend;" and with that he gave us the names of certain
Spanish gentlemen of rank, his friends, assuring us that they would help
us to escape to England. And these names he made us learn by heart, and
then, having no more time to spend with us, he bade us farewell, and we
saw him no more. But in him we found one Spaniard at least who hated the
horrible practices of the Inquisitors, and had a heart within him which
was not insensible to the woes of others.