Page:Madrid shaver's adventures in the Spanish inquisition (2).pdf/16

16 on board the prize as interpreter to the first lieutenant, who was to take posession of her. —He found every thing in confusion, a deck covered with the slain, and the whole crew in consternation at an event they were in no degree prepared for, not having received any intimation of a war. He found the officers in general, and the passengers without exception, under the most horrid impressions of the English, expecting to be butchered without mercy. Don Manuel de Casafonda, the governor, whose countenance bespoke a constitution far gone in a decline, had thrown himself on a sofa, in the last state of despair, and given way to an effusion of tears : when the lieutenant entered the cabin he rose trembling from his couch, and with the most supplicating action, presented to him his sword, and with it a casket which he carried in his other hand : as he tendered these spoils to his conqueror, whether through his weakness, or of his own will, he made a motion of bending his knee : the generous Briton, shocked at the unmanly overture, caught him suddenly with both hands, and turning to Pedroso, said aloud,—Convince this gentleman he is fallen into the hands of an honourable enemy.—Is it possible! cried Don Manuel, and lifting up his streaming eyes to the countenance of the British officer, saw humanity, valour, and generous pity, so strongly characterized in his youthful features, that the conviction was irresistable. Will he not accept my sword? cried the Spaniard. He desires you to wear it, till he has the honour of presenting you to his captain. Ah! then he has a captain, exclaimed Don