Some stimulants had been taken with the boats, and by the time that the Brooklyn was reached one of the men had recovered sufficiently to talk. The others were carried below and given at once into the hands of the surgeon.
"You have suffered very much," said Captain Miles, kindly.
"Yes, but our troubles are over at last."
"You feel strong enough to talk?"
"Yes, captain. I'm the mate of the Mary Parker, a fruit ship bound from Rio Janeiro to New Orleans. We were attacked by the Spaniards, and our ship was captured."
"What was done with it?"
"The cargo—that is, the valuable part of it—was taken by the Spaniard, and our ship was sunk."
"And how came you on the water?"
"Oh, that is a terrible story. The Spaniards would not take us on board. The captain said that he had too many mouths to feed as it was."
"The wretch!"