The song being ended, I turned hastily round, exclaiming aloud—‘A countryman—a friend!’ And at the same time the bushes being rustled aside, out of them popped the grinning face of Señor Peralta! I staggered back with wonder, while the pearl-merchant called out, in good English—
‘Truly a young bird, and to be caught with the veriest chaff! Why, man, thou art a pretty dissembler indeed, when thou canst not hear the butt-end of an old ballad of our country, without leaping and bellowing like a moon-calf. I can tell thee, that had I been as unwary, I should have danced from the end of a halter aboard yonder frigate, long ago!’
By this time, I was recovered from my surprise, and running up to Peralta, assisted him to scramble out of the bushes, beseeching him at the same time to explain to me this mystery, and tell me what he was. Before answering one word, however, he led me quite away from the cover of the bushes, down to the seaside. ’ Where I was hidden,’ he said, ‘another can hide—the open beach keeps safer counsel.’ Then sitting down upon a great stone—the surf almost coming up to our feet—
‘I suspected you for an Englishman,’ quoth he, ‘the first day I saw you. And last night I took the liberty of making myself quite sure. I don’t think you liked the process. But I am an old hand in these matters, and he must understand his business well, who makes me believe falsely that what he seems he is. Now, just tell me candidly how you came here, and perhaps I may help you to what I am pretty sure you want, and that is a means of getting quit of our friends in the ranchiera yonder.’
I acknowledged that he had divined my thoughts, as well as he had penetrated my disguise; and so, in a few words, imparted to him some outline of my story. He heard me out very attentively; and then says he—
‘If I were you, I would go to Jamaica, and claim my property.’
‘What property?’ I said, in amazement.
‘Why,’ quoth he, ‘have you not heard of the fate of the Carthagena galleon? She was taken two days’ sail from the coast by a privateer schooner, which I understand to be no other than yours—the Will-o’-the-Wisp. It was the richest prize that hath been captured in these seas for many a year. The privateer sailed with her into Port Royal, in Jamaica; and as you say that the captain is a staunch-hearted fellow; and as Mr. Pratt, whom I know to be a very honest gentleman, is concerned in the matter, I do not doubt but that your share of the adventure, to which you are fully entitled, and which must be very considerable, will be duly accounted for to you.’
This was great news indeed. I only lamented that I had not been on board in the action, but the pearl merchant, who, it seems, had got his information from those who had spoken with the mariners of the galleon, after they landed on the main coast, being sent back in their boats by the privateers—my pearl merchant, I say, told me that the Spaniards having been boarded in the night, and when they were in no posture of defence, had made next to no resistance, and that the galleon had been very easily secured. Of course, this intelligence made me doubly anxious to make my way to Jamaica, or to any port where I could regain my comrades, and I eagerly asked my new friend whether he could not put me in the way of getting thither.
‘Why,’ says he, ‘if I could not, I shouldn’t have made myself known to you at all, but the truth is, that I need your services as a seaman. I have got a very large decked piragua—you may see her masts as she lies there in the river—in which I have, as I may say, sailed the whole Caribbean Sea. This trip, however, I have been unfortunate, having lost a very good fellow—a negro—my prime seaman, who died about a month ago of the small-pox. I have but two men slaves of my own left with me, and I was thinking where I could get a good fourth hand, who knew somewhat about the sea, when fortune sends you to my aid.’