swungloosebeneaththehatchway。
　　AsIpassedthatSpaniardtowhomIhadbeengiveninslavery，andwhobutnowhadcounselledmycastingaway，Isawhisfacewellinthelightofthelantern，andthereweresignsonitthataphysiciancouldreadclearly。
　　’Farewell，’Isaidtohim，’wemaysoonmeetagain。
　　Fool，whydoyoulabour？
　　Takeyourrest，fortheplagueisonyou。
　　Insixhoursyouwillbedead！’
　　Hisjawdroppedwithterroratmywords，andforamomenthestoodspeechless。
　　Thenheutteredafearfuloathandaimedablowatmewiththehammerheheld，whichwouldswiftlyhaveputanendtomysufferingshadInotatthatmomentbeenliftedfromhisreachbythosewhopulledabove。
　　InanothersecondIhadfallenonthedeckastheyslackedtherope。
　　Nearmestoodtwoblackmenwhoseofficeitwastocastuspoorwretchesintothesea，andbehindthem，seatedinachair，hisfacehaggardfromrecentillness，satdeGarciafanninghimselfwithhissombrero，forthenightwasveryhot。
　　Herecognisedmeatonceinthemoonlight，whichwasbrilliant，andsaid，’What！areyouhereandstillalive，Cousin？
　　Youaretoughindeed；Ithoughtthatyoumustbedeadordying。
　　Indeedhaditnotbeenforthisaccursedplague，Iwouldhaveseentoitmyself。
　　Well，ithascomerightatlast，andhereistheonlyluckythinginallthisvoyage，thatIshallhavethepleasureofsendingyoutothesharks。
　　Itconsolesmeformuch，friendWingfield。
　　Soyoucameacrosstheseastoseekvengeanceonme？
　　Well，Ihopethatyourstayhasbeenpleasant。
　　Theaccommodationwasalittlepoor，butatleastthewelcomewashearty。
　　Andnowitistimetospeedthepartingguest。
　　Goodnight，ThomasWingfield；ifyoushouldchancetomeetyourmotherpresently，tellherfrommethatIwasgrievedtohavetokillher，forsheistheonebeingwhomIhaveloved。
　　Ididnotcometomurderherasyoumayhavethought，butsheforcedmetoittosavemyself，sincehadInotdoneso，I
　　shouldneverhavelivedtoreturntoSpain。
　　Shehadtoomuchofmyownbloodtosuffermetoescape，anditseemsthatitrunsstronginyourveinsalso，elseyouwouldscarcelyholdsofastbyvengeance。
　　Well，ithasnotprosperedyou！’
　　Andhedroppedbackintothechairandfelltofanninghimselfagainwiththebroadhat。
　　Eventhen，asIstoodupontheeveofdeath，Ifeltmybloodrunhotwithinmeatthestingofhiscoarsetaunts。
　　TrulydeGarcia’striumphwascomplete。
　　Ihadcometohunthimdown，andwhatwastheendofit？
　　Hewasabouttohurlmetothesharks。
　　StillI
　　answeredhimwithsuchdignityasIcouldcommand。
　　’Youhavemeatsomedisadvantage，’Isaid。
　　’Nowifthereisanymanhoodleftinyou，givemeaswordandletussettleourquarrelonceandforall。
　　YouareweakfromsicknessIknow，butwhatamI
　　whohavespentcertaindaysandnightsinthishellofyours。
　　Weshouldbewellmatched，deGarcia。’
　　’Perhapsso，Cousin，butwhereistheneed？
　　Tobefrank，thingshavenotgoneoverwellwithmewhenwestoodfacetofacebefore，anditisodd，butdoyouknow，Ihavebeentroubledwithaforebodingthatyouwouldbetheendofme。
　　ThatisoneofthereasonswhyIsoughtachangeofairtothesewarmerregions。
　　Butseethefollyofforebodings，myfriend。
　　Iamstillalive，thoughIhavebeenill，andImeantogoonliving，butyouare——forgivemeformentioningit——youarealreadydead。
　　Indeedthosegentlemen，’andhepointedtothetwoblackmenwhoweretakingadvantageofourtalktothrowintotheseatheslavewhofollowedmeupthehatchway，’arewaitingtoputastoptoourconversation。
　　HaveyouanymessagethatIcandeliverforyou？
　　Ifso，outwithit，fortimeisshortandthatholdmustbeclearedbydaybreak。’
　　’Ihavenomessagetogiveyoufrommyself，thoughIhaveamessageforyou，deGarcia，’Ianswered。
　　’ButbeforeItellit，letmesayaword。
　　Youseemtohavewon，wickedmurdererasyouare，butperhapsthegameisnotyetplayed。
　　Yourfearsmaystillcometrue。
　　Iamdead，butmyvengeancemayyetliveon，forIleaveittotheHandinwhichIshouldhaveleftitatfirst。
　　Youmaylivesomeyearslonger，butdoyouthinkthatyoushallescape？
　　OnedayyouwilldieassurelyasImustdieto-night，andwhatthen，deGarcia？’
　　’Atruce，Iprayyou，’hesaidwithasneer。
　　’Surelyyouhavenotbeenconsecratedpriest。
　　Youhadamessage，yousaid。
　　Praydeliveritquickly。
　　Timepresses，CousinWingfield。
　　Whosendsmessagestoanexilelikemyself？’
　　’IsabelladeSiguenza，whomyoucheatedwithafalsemarriageandabandoned，’Isaid。
　　Hestartedfromhischairandstoodoverme。
　　’Whatofher？’hewhisperedfiercely。
　　’Onlythis，themonkswalledherupalivewithherbabe。’
　　’Walledherupalive！
　　MotherofGod！howdoyouknowthat？’
　　’Ichancedtoseeitdone，thatisall。
　　Sheprayedmetotellyouofherendandthechild’s，andthatshediedhidingyourname，lovingandforgiving。
　　Thiswasallhermessage，butIwilladdtoit。
　　Mayshehauntyouforever，sheandmymother；maytheyhauntyouthroughlifeanddeath，throughearthandhell。’
　　Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandsforamoment，thendroppingthemsankbackintothechairandcalledtotheblacksailors。
　　’Awaywiththisslave。
　　Whyareyousoslow？’
　　Themenadvanceduponme，butIwasnotmindedtobehandledbythemifIcouldhelpit，andIwasmindedtocausedeGarciatosharemyfate。
　　SuddenlyIboundedathim，andgrippinghimroundthemiddle，Idraggedhimfromhischair。
　　SuchwasthestrengththatrageanddespairgavetomethatIsucceededinswinginghimuptothelevelofthebulwarks。
　　Buttherethematterended，foratthatmomentthetwoblacksailorsspranguponusboth，andtorehimfrommygrip。
　　Thenseeingthatallwaslost，fortheywereabouttocutmedownwiththeirswords，Iplacedmyhanduponthebulwarkandleapedintothesea。
　　MyreasontoldmethatIshoulddowelltodrownasquicklyaspossible，andIthoughttomyselfthatIwouldnottrytoswim，butwouldsinkatonce。
　　Yetloveoflifewastoostrongforme，andsosoonasItouchedthewater，Istruckoutandbegantoswimalongthesideoftheship，keepingmyselfinhershadow，forIfearedlestdeGarciashouldcausemetobeshotatwitharrowsandmusketballs。
　　PresentlyasIwentIheardhimsaywithanoath:
　　’Hehasgone，andforgoodthistime，butmyforebodingwentneartocomingtrueafterall。
　　Bah！howthesightofthatmanfrightensme。’
　　NowIknewinmyheartthatIwasdoingamadthing，forthoughifnosharktookme，ImightfloatforsixoreighthoursinthiswarmwateryetImustsinkatlast，andwhatwouldmystrugglehaveprofitedme？
　　StillIswamonslowly，andafterthefilthandstenchoftheslavehold，thetouchofthecleanwaterandthebreathofthepureairwerelikefoodandwinetome，andIfeltstrengthenterintomeasIwent。
　　BythistimeIwasahundredyardsormorefromtheship，andthoughthoseonboardcouldscarcelyhaveseenme，Icouldstillhearthesplashofthebodies，astheslaveswereflungfromher，andthedrowningcriesofsuchamongthemasstilllived。
　　Iliftedmyheadandlookedroundthewasteofwater，andseeingsomethingfloatingonitatadistance，Iswamtowardsit，expectingthateverymomentwouldbemylast，becauseofthesharkswhichaboundintheseseas。
　　SoonIwasnearit，andtomyjoyI
　　perceivedthatitwasalargebarrel，whichhadbeenthrownfromtheship，andwasfloatinguprightinthewater。
　　Ireachedit，andpushingatitfrombelow，contrivedtotiltitsothatIcaughtitsupperedgewithmyhand。
　　ThenIsawthatitwashalffullofmealcakes，andthatithadbeencastawaybecausethemealwasstinking。
　　Itwastheweightoftheserottencakesactingasballast，thatcausedthetubtofloatuprightinthewater。
　　NowI
　　bethoughtme，thatifIcouldgetintothisbarrelIshouldbesafefromthesharksforawhile，buthowtodoitIdidnotknow。
　　WhileIwondered，chancingtoglancebehindme，Isawthefinofasharkstandingabovethewaternottwentypacesaway，andadvancingrapidlytowardsme。
　　Thenterrorseizedmeandgavemestrengthandthewitofdespair。
　　Pullingdowntheedgeofthebarreltillthewaterbegantopourintoit，Iseizeditoneithersidewithmyhands，andliftingmyweightuponthem，Idoubledmyknees。
　　TothishourIcannottellhowIaccomplishedit，butthenextsecondIwasinthecask，withnootherhurtthanascrapedshin。
　　ButthoughIhadfoundaboat，theboatitselfwasliketosink，forwhatwithmyweightandthatoftherottenmeal，andofthewaterwhichhadpouredovertherim，theedgeofthebarrelwasnotnowaninchabovethelevelofthesea，andIknewthatdidanotherbucketfulcomeaboard，itwouldnolongerbearme。
　　AtthatmomentalsoIsawthefinofthesharkwithinfouryards，andthenfeltthebarrelshakeasthefishstruckitwithhisnose。
　　NowIbegantobailfuriouslywithmyhands，andasIbailed，theedgeofthecasklifteditselfabovethewater。
　　Whenithadrisensometwoinches，theshark，enragedatmyescape，cametothesurface，andturningonitsside，bitatthetubsothatIhearditsteethgrateonthewoodandironbands，causingittoheeloverandtospinround，shippingmorewaterasitheeled。
　　NowImustbailafresh，andhadthefishreneweditsonset，Ishouldhavebeenlost。
　　Butnotfindingwoodandirontoitstaste，itwentawayforawhile，althoughIsawitsfinfromtimetotimeforthespaceofsomehours。
　　IbailedwithmyhandstillIcouldliftthewaternolonger，thenmakingshifttotakeoffmyboot，Ibailedwiththat。
　　Soontheedgeofthecaskstoodtwelveinchesabovethewater，andIdidnotlightenitfurther，fearinglestitshouldoverturn。
　　NowIhadtimetorestandtorememberthatallthiswasofnoavail，sinceImustdieatlasteitherbytheseaorbecauseofthirst，andIlamentedthatmycowardicehadonlysufficedtoprolongmysufferings。
　　ThenIprayedtoGodtosuccourme，andneverdidIpraymoreheartilythaninthathour，andwhenIhadfinishedprayingsomesortofpeaceandhopefelluponme。
　　IthoughtitmarvellousthatIshouldthushaveescapedthricefromgreatperilswithinthespaceofafewdays，firstfromthesinkingcarak，thenfrompestilenceandstarvationintheboldoftheslave-ship，andnow，ifonlyforawhile，fromthecrueljawsofthesharks。
　　ItseemedtomethatIhadnotbeenpreservedfromdangerswhichprovedfataltosomany，onlythatImightperishmiserablyatlast，andeveninmydespairIbegantohopewhenhopewasfolly；thoughwhetherthisreliefwassenttomefromabove，orwhetheritwassimplythatbeingsomuchaliveatthemomentIcouldnotbelievethatIshouldsoonbedead，isnotformetosay。
　　Attheleastmycourageroseagain，andIcouldevenfindhearttonotethebeautyofthenight。
　　Theseawassmoothasapond，therewasnobreathofwind，andnowthatthemoonbegantosink，thousandsofstarsofamarvellousbrightness，suchaswedonotseeinEngland，gemmedtheheavenseverywhere。
　　Atlastthesegrewpale，anddawnbegantoflushtheeast，andafteritcamethefirstraysofsunlight。