152 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



might be placed in the boat, and, with a courteous 

 apology for leaving him a moment, Captain Eeady 

 hastened to give the necessary orders. 



When the captain reached the deck, a heartrending 

 scene presented itself to him. His unfortunate pas- 

 senger was seated on one of the hatchways, despair 

 legibly written on his pale features. The eldest child 

 had climbed xip on his knee, and looked wistfully into 

 its father's face, and his wife hung round his neck 

 sobbing audibly. A young negress, who had come on 

 board with them, held the other child, an infant a 

 few months old, in her arms. Eeady took the prison- 

 er's hand. 



" I hate tyranny," said he, " as every American 

 must. Had you confided your position to me a few 

 hours sooner, I would have got you safe off. But 

 now I see nothing to be done. "We are under the 

 cannon of the fort, that could sink us in ten seconds. 

 Who and what are you ? Say quickly, for time is 

 precious." 



" I am a Columbian by birth," replied the young 

 man, "an officer in the patriot army. I was taken 

 prisoner at the battle of Cachiri, and brought to the 

 Havannah with several companions in misfortune. 

 My wife and children were allowed to follow me, for 

 the Spaniards were not sorry to have one of the first 

 families of Columbia entirely in their power. Four 

 months I lay in a frightful dungeon, with rats and 

 venomous reptiles for my only companions. It is a 



