Vlll INTRODUCTION. 



sure transferred to the hold of the buccaneer ; 

 the crew rowed ashore, and their ship set on fire. 

 Death seemed inevitable, when a breeze, which 

 soon increased to a gale, drifting the burning 

 hull on the rocks providentially proved a means 

 of escape, for a raft was made, and launched. 

 Upon this the rnen stood out to sea. 



After enduring frightful privations, a friendly 

 ship picked them up, and they eventually reached 

 Europe in safety. Amongst the sailors rescued 

 from the raft was a Greek, Apostolos Valerianos, 

 who for some reason was nick-named by his 

 shipmates Juan de Fuca. Nine years after his 

 escape from the raft we hear of him in Venice. 



In 1596 Mr. Locke, a merchant, and his 

 friend John Douglas, a sea-captain, were residing 

 in Venice, and nightly smoked their pipes at a 

 snug wine-shop, the resort of sea-faring men. 

 A constant visitor at this house of entertainment 

 was a pilot on the Greek seas, who had attracted 

 Douglas's attention by the wonderful stories he 

 related ; so much so that he induced his friend, 

 Mr. Locke, to listen to the old man's adventures.* 



* For full narrative of Apostolos Valerianos, see Samuel 

 Purchase His Pilgrims. 



