OnthedayafterIhadgivenmyfortuneandlettersintothechargeofCaptainBell，Iwatchedthe’Adventuress’dropslowlyroundthemoleofCadiz，andsosadwasIatheart，thatIamnotashamedtoconfessIwept。
　　Iwouldgladlyhavethewealthshecarriedifshehadbutcarriedme。
　　Butmypurposewasindomitable，anditmustbesomeothershipthatwouldbearmehometotheshoresofEngland。
　　Asitchanced，alargeSpanishcaraknamed’LasCinqueLlagas，’or’TheFiveWounds，’wasabouttosailforHispaniola，andhavingobtainedalicencetotrade，Itookpassageinherundermyassumednameofd’Aila，passingmyselfoffasamerchant。
　　TofurtherthisdeceptionIpurchasedgoodsthevalueofonehundredandfivepesos，andofsuchnatureasIwasinformedweremostreadilysaleableintheIndies，whichmerchandiseIshippedwithme。
　　ThevesselwasfullofSpanishadventurers，mostlyruffiansofvariedcareerandstrangehistory，butnonethelessgoodcompanionsenoughwhennotindrink。
　　BythistimeIcouldspeakCastiliansoperfectly，andwassoSpanishinappearance，thatitwasnotdifficultformetopassmyselfoffasoneoftheirnationandthisIdid，inventingafeignedtaleofmyparentage，andofthereasonsthatledmetotempttheseas。
　　Fortherest，nowaseverIkeptmyowncounsel，andnotwithstandingmyreserve，forIwouldnotmingleintheirorgies，Isoonbecamewelllikedbymycomrades，chieflybecauseofmyskillinministeringtotheirsicknesses。
　　Ofourvoyagethereislittletotellexceptofitssadend。
　　AttheCanaryIsleswestayedamonth，andthensailedawayforHispaniola，meetingwithfineweatherbutlightwinds。
　　When，asourcaptainreckoned，wewerewithinaweek’ssailoftheportofSanDomingoforwhichwewerebound，theweatherchanged，andpresentlygatheredtoafurioustempestfromthenorththatgrewmoreterribleeveryhour。
　　Forthreedaysandnightsourcumbrousvesselgroanedandlabouredbeneaththestressofthegale，thatdroveusonrapidlyweknewnotwhither，tillatlengthitbecameclearthat，unlesstheweathermoderated，wemustfounder。
　　Ourshipleakedateveryseam，oneofourmastswascarriedaway，andanotherbrokenintwo，ataheightoftwentyfeetfromthedeck。
　　Butallthesemisfortunesweresmallcomparedtowhatwastocome，foronthefourthmorningagreatwavesweptoffourrudder，andwedriftedhelplessbeforethewaves。
　　Anhourlateragreenseacameaboardofus，washingawaythecaptain，sothatwefilledandsettleddowntofounder。
　　Thenbeganamosthorridscene。
　　Forseveraldaysboththecrewandpassengershadbeendrinkingheavilytoallaytheirterror，andnowthattheysawtheirendathand，theyrushedtoandfroscreaming，praying，andblaspheming。
　　Suchofthemasremainedsoberbegantogetoutthetwoboats，intowhichIandanotherman，aworthypriest，strovetoplacethewomenandchildren，ofwhomwehadseveralonboard。
　　Butthiswasnoeasytask，forthedrunkensailorspushedthemasideandtriedtospringintotheboats，thefirstofwhichoverturned，sothatallwerelost。
　　Justthenthecarakgavealurchbeforeshesank，and，seeingthateverythingwasover，Icalledtothepriesttofollowme，andspringingintotheseaIswamforthesecondboat，which，ladenwithsomeshriekingwomen，haddriftedlooseintheconfusion。
　　AsitchancedIreacheditsafely，beingastrongswimmer，andwasabletorescuethepriestbeforehesank。
　　Thenthevesselrearedherselfuponhersternandfloatedthusforaminuteormore，whichgaveustimetogetouttheoarsandrowsomefathomsfurtherawayfromher。
　　Scarcelyhadwedoneso，when，withonewildandfearfulscreamfromthoseonboardofher，sherusheddownintothedepthsbelow，nearlytakinguswithher。
　　Forawhilewesatsilent，forourhorroroverwhelmedus，butwhenthewhirlpoolwhichshemadehadceasedtoboil，werowedbacktowherethecarakhadbeen。
　　Nowalltheseawasstrewnwithwreckage，butamongitwefoundonlyonechildlivingthathadclungtoanoar。
　　Therest，sometwohundredsouls，hadbeensuckeddownwiththeshipandperishedmiserably，oriftherewereanystillliving，wecouldnotfindtheminthatwelteringseaoverwhichthedarknesswasfalling。
　　Indeed，itwaswellforourownsafetythatwefailedinsodoing，forthelittleboathadtensoulsonboardinall，whichwasasmanyasshecouldcarry——thepriestandIbeingtheonlymenamongthem。
　　Ihavesaidthatthedarknesswasfalling，andasitchancedhappilyforus，sowasthesea，orassuredlywemusthavebeenswamped。
　　Allthatwecoulddowastokeeptheboat’sheadstraighttothewaves，andthiswedidthroughthelongnight。
　　Itwasastrangethingtosee，orrathertohear，thatgoodmanthepriestmycompanion，confessingthewomenonebyoneashelabouredathisoar，andwhenallwereshrivensendingupprayerstoGodforthesalvationofoursouls，forofthesafetyofourbodieswedespaired。
　　WhatIfeltmaywellbeimagined，butIforbeartodescribeit，seeingthat，badaswasmycase，therewereworseonesbeforemeofwhichIshallhavetotellintheirseason。
　　Atlengththenightworeaway，andthedawnbrokeuponthedesolatesea。
　　Presentlythesuncameup，forwhichatfirstwewerethankful，forwewerechilledtothebone，butsoonitsheatgrewintolerable，sincewehadneitherfoodnorwaterintheboat，andalreadywewereparchedwiththirst。
　　Butnowthewindhadfallentoasteadybreeze，andwiththehelpoftheoarsandablanket，wecontrivedtofashionasailthatdrewusthroughthewateratagoodspeed。
　　Buttheoceanwasvast，andwedidnotknowwhitherweweresailing，andeveryhourtheagonyofthirstpressedusmoreclosely。
　　Towardsmid-dayachilddiedsuddenlyandwasthrownintothesea，andsomethreehourslaterthemotherfilledabailingbowlanddrankdeepofthebitterwater。
　　Forawhileitseemedtoassuageherthirst，thensuddenlyamadnesstookher，andspringingupshecastherselfoverboardandsank。
　　Beforethesun，glowinglikeared-hotball，hadsunkbeneaththehorizon，thepriestandI
　　weretheonlyonesinthatcompanywhocouldsitupright——therestlayuponthebottomoftheboatheapedoneonanotherlikedyingfishgroaningintheirmisery。
　　Nightfellatlastandbroughtussomerelieffromoursufferings，fortheairgrewcooler。
　　Buttherainweprayedfordidnotfall，andsogreatwastheheatthat，whenthesunroseagaininacloudlesssky，weknew，ifnohelpreachedus，thatitmustbethelastwhichweshouldsee。
　　Anhourafterdawnanotherchilddied，andaswewereintheactofcastingthebodyintothesea，Ilookedupandsawavesselfaraway，thatseemedtobesailinginsuchfashionthatshewouldpasswithintwomilesofwherewewere。
　　ReturningthankstoGodforthismostblessedsight，wetooktotheoars，forthewindwasnowsolightthatourclumsysailwouldnolongerdrawusthroughthewater，androwedfeeblysoastocutthepathoftheship。
　　Whenwehadlabouredformorethananhourthewindfellaltogetherandthevessellaybecalmedatadistanceofaboutthreemiles。
　　SothepriestandIrowedontillIthoughtthatwemustdieintheboat，fortheheatofthesunwaslikethatofaflameandtherecamenowindtotemperit；bynow，too，ourlipswerecrackedwiththirst。
　　Stillwestruggledontilltheshadowoftheship’smastsfellathwartusandwesawhersailorswatchingusfromthedeck。
　　Nowwewerealongsideandtheyletdownaladderofrope，speakingtousinSpanish。
　　HowwereachedthedeckIcannotsay，butIrememberfallingbeneaththeshadeofanawninganddrinkingcupaftercupofthewaterthatwasbroughttome。
　　Atlastevenmythirstwassatisfied，andforawhileIgrewfaintanddizzy，andhadnostomachforthemeatwhichwasthrustintomyhand。
　　Indeed，I
　　thinkthatImusthavefainted，forwhenIcametomyselfthesunwasstraightoverhead，anditseemedtomethatIhaddreamedI
　　heardafamiliarandhatefulvoice。
　　AtthetimeIwasalonebeneaththeawning，forthecrewoftheshipweregatheredontheforedeckclusteringroundwhatappearedtobethebodyofaman。
　　Bymysidewasalargeplateofvictualsandaflaskofspirits，andfeelingstrongerIateanddrankofthemheartily。
　　Ihadscarcelyfinishedmymealwhenthemenontheforedeckliftedthebodyoftheman，whichIsawwasblackincolour，andcastitoverboard。
　　Thenthreeofthem，whomfromtheirportItooktobeofficers，cametowardsmeandIrosetomyfeettomeetthem。
　　’Senor，’saidthetallestoftheminasoftandgentlevoice，’suffermetoofferyouourfelicitationsonyourwonderful——’andhestoppedsuddenly。
　　DidIstilldream，ordidIknowthevoice？
　　NowforthefirsttimeIcouldseetheman’sface——itwasthatofJUANDEGARCIA！
　　ButifIknewhimhealsoknewme。
　　’Caramba！’hesaid，’whomhavewehere？
　　SenorThomasWingfieldI
　　saluteyou。
　　Look，mycomrades，youseethisyoungmanwhomtheseahasbroughttous。
　　HeisnoSpaniardbutanEnglishspy。
　　ThelasttimethatIsawhimwasinthestreetsofSeville，andtherehetriedtomurdermebecauseIthreatenedtorevealhistradetotheauthorities。
　　Nowheishere，uponwhaterrandheknowsbest。’
　　’Itisfalse，’Ianswered；’Iamnospy，andIamcometotheseseasforonepurposeonly——tofindyou。’
　　’Thenyouhavesucceededwell，toowellforyourowncomfort，perhaps。
　　Saynow，doyoudenythatyouareThomasWingfieldandanEnglishman？’
　　’Idonotdenyit。
　　I——’
　　’Yourpardon。
　　Howcomesitthenthat，asyourcompanionthepriesttellsme，yousailedinLasCinqueLlagasunderthenameofD’AILA？’
　　’Formyownreasons，JuandeGarcia。’
　　’Youareconfused，senor。
　　MynameisSarceda，asthesegentlemencanbearmewitness。
　　OnceIknewacavalierofthenameofdeGarcia，butheisdead。’
　　’Youlie，’Ianswered；whereononeofDeGarcia’scompanionsstruckmeacrossthemouth。
　　’Gently，friend，’saiddeGarcia；’donotdefileyourhandbystrikingsuchratsasthis，orifyoumuststrike，useastick。
　　YouhaveheardthatheconfessestopassingunderafalsenameandtobeinganEnglishman，andthereforeoneofourcountry’sfoes。
　　TothisIadduponmywordofhonourthattomyknowledgeheisaspyandawould-bemurderer。
　　Now，gentlemen，underthecommissionofhismajesty’srepresentative，wearejudgeshere，butsinceyoumaythinkthat，havingbeencalledaliaropenlybythisEnglishdog，Imightbemindedtodealunjustlywithhim，Iprefertoleavethematterinyourhands。’
　　NowItriedtospeakoncemore，buttheSpaniardwhohadstruckme，aferocious-lookingvillain，drewhisswordandsworethathewouldrunmethroughifIdaredtoopenmylips。
　　SoIthoughtitwelltokeepsilent。
　　’ThisEnglishmanwouldgraceayardarmverywell，’hesaid。
　　DeGarcia，whohadbeguntohumatuneindifferently，smiled，lookingfirstattheyardandthenatmyneck，andthehateinhiseyesseemedtoburnme。
　　’Ihaveabetterthoughtthanthat，’saidthethirdofficer。
　　’Ifwehunghimquestionsmightbeasked，andattheleast，itwouldbeawasteofgoodmoney。
　　Heisafinelybuiltyoungmanandwouldlastsomeyearsinthemines。
　　Lethimbesoldwiththerestofthecargo，orIwilltakehimmyselfatavaluation。
　　Iaminwantofafewsuchonmyestate。’
　　AtthesewordsIsawdeGarcia’sfacefallalittle，forhewishedtoberidofmeforever。