186 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XI.-B. S. 
smoking ruins. Morgan, when accused by his fol¬ 
lowers of this impolitic atrocity, pointed to the Spa¬ 
niards as the originators. This assertion, however, 
found no credit. He delighted in anything cruel, and 
had probably no other motive for this incendiary act 
than Hero had when he wanted to enjoy the sight of 
a great conflagration. 
Most of the buccaneers were still encamped out¬ 
side the walls, closely united for fear of an attack; 
but when, after a lapse of several days, they perceived 
that there need be no apprehension on that head, 
they re-entered the city and deposited the sick in 
the few buildings that had escaped destruction. A 
careful search was made among the ruins for utensils 
of plate and gold, by means of which they obtained, 
especially from the wells and cisterns, considerable 
quantities. To acquire still more, parties of two hun¬ 
dred men were dispatched into the country. These 
expeditions were successful, making a considerable 
number of prisoners, and gathering a great amount of 
valuables. In order to make the captives confess 
where the treasures were concealed, they were sub¬ 
jected to the most cruel tortures, the bare recital of 
which is horror-striking. The poor wretches could 
seldom stand the diabolical treatment, and many ex¬ 
pired under its application. 
The twenty-five men sent in pursuit of the rich 
vessel came back, bringing several prizes. They had 
failed,- however, in the real object of their mission, 
having given themselves up to debauchery instead of 
proceeding at once on their voyage, and thus enabled 
