398 NIGHTS IN THE GALLEY. 



I had commanded the Black Joke instead of that cowardly rascal 

 they call the captain, you would not have taken us so easily ; but as 

 it is, I am your prisoner. I know what murderous villains you 

 pirates are, and am ready to die.' I said, ' I hope your lordship will 

 think better of us when you know us/ ' Come, Sir/ he said, ' I am 

 not going to beg for my life. I am rich ; if you will take ransom I 

 can pay it ; if not seizing a sword from behind him I will sell 

 my life as dearly as possible.' I told him that we had no intention 

 of taking his life, but would much rather have his ransom. ' Very 

 well/ said he, ( I don't trust to what you say, because I think you 

 would care about breaking your word, but because I think it is your 

 interest to keep it.' When we had got the cargo into our boats that 

 is, as much of the most valuable as we could carry we tied the hands 

 of all the crew, and lashed them to the bulwarks at such a distance 

 from each other as would prevent their setting one another free ; and 

 then we took the captain and lashed him to the four bits to a piece 

 of stick, in the middle of which we stuck a fusee that would burn 

 half an hour before it set light to the wood, so that he might be able 

 to get clear by the time we were well out of their way. We then 

 shoved off, and made for Egina run into the harbour to make them 

 think that was our place of rendezvous. At night we hauled out again, 

 and got into Epidauros. We then brought our prisoner up to the 

 village. The next morning I asked Lord Vaudeville to take a walk 

 with me that we might settle about his ransom ; he did so. I need 

 not trouble you by telling you all we said ; it's enough to say I con- 

 vinced him that I was not a murderer ; and by what he said he con- 

 vinced me he was a fine, honourable, high-spirited young man. We 

 settled that his ransom should be four hundred pounds. He re- 

 mained with us a fortnight till his ransom was in the hands of our 

 agent at Smyrna. During the time he was with us we were con- 

 stantly together, walking and talking, by which means we became 

 great friends, and he told me that he was very glad he had been 

 taken, and if I ever came to England I was to seek him out imme- 

 diately. He gave me one of his cards with his direction upon it- 

 here it is. At last the morning came that I was to land him at 

 Egina. We went into the boat together, and just as we cleared the 

 harbour we saw an English frigate. He turned round to me and 

 said ' Can you place confidence enough in me to put me on board 

 this frigate, if I give you my word I will not betray you ?' ' Yes, 

 my lord/ I said, ' I do trust you ; and I feel so confident of your 

 honourable feelings that I will go alongside directly/ He said 

 nothing, and we pulled alongside. When the frigate saw us she hove 

 to. ' You'll come on board with me ?' he said ; so up I went. When 

 we got on deck he went up to the captain, who had just come 

 on deck. They recognized each other immediately. * God bless 

 me, Vaudeville, how came you here?' said the captain ' Ah ! Clif- 

 ford, who'd have thought of seeing you here ? let me introduce 

 you to my particular friend Yarnio Pothalimo/ So down we went 

 into the cabin, had some wine together, and after remaining half 

 an hour, I shook hands with Lord Vaudeville and Captain Clif- 

 ford, and came back to Epidauros. About six months ago, our agent 



