“From the description I could give him of the islands we passed after we had been at sea a few hours, and the time it took us to sail from them to some known points, the captain was able to form a sort of idea as to which group of islands it belonged to, and when he had reached port and got rid of his prisoners, all of whom were garroted—that's a sort of strangling, you know—by the Spaniards, a week afterward, we set out again on our search for the island.”
CHAPTER V: THE PIRATE HOLD
“The frigate was again disguised as a merchantman, as, if she had passed within sight of the island looking like a ship of war, it would have put the pirates on their guard, and I had told the captain there were guns enough at the mouth of the cove to blow the ship's boats out of the water. As to the frigate getting in, I knew she couldn't, for there was only just enough water at the entrance for the pirate vessels to enter in. I was not in irons now, but spent my time on deck; and a wretched time it was, I can tell you, for not a sailor on board would speak to me.
“For three weeks we cruised about, sailing round island after island, but at last as we were approaching one of them I saw the three trees.
“'That's the place,' I said to the boatswain, who was standing near me, and he carried the news to the quarterdeck, and brought back word I was to go to the captain.
“You are sure those are the trees?'
“'Quite sure, sir.'
“'They answer to your description certainly,' the captain said. 'Keep her away, master, I don't want them to think we are steering for the island.'
“The ship's course was altered, and she sailed along parallel with the coast.