After we had remained in the prison five days longer, we were one
morning brought forth and stripped of our San-benitos and given rough
clothing suited to galley slaves. And that being done we were mounted on
stout horses, in company with the other prisoners who had been sentenced
to serve in the galleys, and being guarded by a great number of
soldiers, well armed, we were sent off across country to the port of
Acapulco. But ere we left Mexico every man of us had fastened to his
left wrist and ankle a heavily-weighted chain, which would have made it
impossible for us to attempt an escape even if we could have eluded the
vigilance of our escort.

We were somewhat surprised to find that our first destination was
Acapulco, for we had fancied that we should be sent to Vera Cruz, which
is much nearer to the city of Mexico, and from which we expected to be
sent across seas to Spain. We found, however, that at Acapulco there lay
at that time a great treasure-galleon, the Santa Filomena, which the
Spaniards were minded to take home by way of the Pacific islands and
Africa, it being their belief that by this route there would be less
chance of meeting Hawkins, or Drake, or Frobisher, or any of the great
English sea-captains, of whom they were mortally afraid. In this
galleon, then, we were to be shipped, with the prospect of a long and
tedious voyage, which, according to Pharaoh's calculations, might cover
the best part of a year even with fair winds.

Our overland journey to Acapulco was not wholly unpleasant, for our
guards being soldiers, and free from the encouragement of those
murderous fanatics the Inquisitors and Familiars, treated us with as
much consideration as was possible, and forbore to taunt us with our
misfortunes. Moreover, we were frequently lodged for the night in the
neighborhood of some convent or monastery, and then we did exceeding
well, the friars feeding us with their best, and compassionating us for
our many sorrows. And at that time it was plain to us that the
Inquisition was heartily hated by the friars--black, white, and
gray,--and met with no favor from any but such as had long since
forgotten all that they had ever known of mercy and compassion.

Having reached Acapulco, after many days' journeying over mountains and
plains, we were immediately conveyed on board the Santa Filomena, which
was a great galleon of full rig, having a high poop and a double bank of
oars, and there our chains were kn