At the time I was alone
beneath the awning, for the crew of the ship were gathered on the
foredeck clustering round what appeared to be the body of a man. By my
side was a large plate of victuals and a flask of spirits, and feeling
stronger I ate and drank of them heartily. I had scarcely finished my
meal when the men on the foredeck lifted the body of the man, which I
saw was black in colour, and cast it overboard. Then three of them, whom
from their port I took to be officers, came towards me and I rose to my
feet to meet them.
'Senor,' said the tallest of them in a soft and gentle voice, 'suffer
me to offer you our felicitations on your wonderful--' and he stopped
suddenly.
Did I still dream, or did I know the voice? Now for the first time I
could see the man's face--it was that of JUAN DE GARCIA! But if I knew
him he also knew me.
'Caramba!' he said, 'whom have we here? Senor Thomas Wingfield I salute
you. Look, my comrades, you see this young man whom the sea has brought
to us. He is no Spaniard but an English spy. The last time that I saw
him was in the streets of Seville, and there he tried to murder me
because I threatened to reveal his trade to the authorities. Now he is
here, upon what errand he knows best.'
'It is false,' I answered; 'I am no spy, and I am come to these seas for
one purpose only--to find you.
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