As we
advanced, however, our journey was continually impeded by attacks made
upon us by hostile natives, so it was not until toward the evening of
the second day after leaving the caves that we succeeded in climbing
the cliffs above the settlement. Judge then of our dismay when, upon
looking seaward, we perceived our ship standing out from the bay under
full sail, while at her mizzen floated the flag of Spain.
CHAPTER XXXII
MAROONED
As we stood upon the cliffs overlooking the Spanish settlement,
watching, with blank faces, the "Golden Seahorse" sailing seaward under
a foreign flag, it was borne in upon us that we owed our loss to the
treachery of Queen Barreto, who, taking advantage of our absence, had
pirated our vessel. On descending to the town our suspicions were
confirmed. Here we found the settlement abandoned by the Spaniards,
who, before leaving, had imprisoned our crew, bound and gagged, in the
Queen's house. Having released them, we heard from Bantum, our second
officer, the particulars of what had occurred.
"No sooner had you left the town," said he, "than Queen Barreto, with
Pedro de Castro and a swarm of Spaniards, came aboard of us.
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