When the
French came to Finisterra, and demolished the fort, three perished
by my hand. I stood on the mountain, up where I saw you scrambling
to-day. I continued firing at the enemy, until three detached
themselves in pursuit of me. The fools! two perished amongst the
rocks by the fire of this musket, and as for the third, I beat his
head to pieces with the stock. It is on that account that they
call me the valiente of Finisterra.
Myself. - How came you to serve with the English fleet? I think I
heard you say that you were present when Nelson fell.
Antonio de la Trava. - I was captured by your countrymen, captain;
and as I had been a sailor from my childhood, they were glad of my
services. I was nine months with them, and assisted at Trafalgar.
I saw the English admiral die. You have something of his face, and
your voice, when you spoke, sounded in my ears like his own. I
love the English, and on that account I saved you. Think not that
I would toil along these sands with you if you were one of my own
countrymen. Here we are at Duyo, captain. Shall we refresh?
We did refresh, or rather Antonio de la Trava refreshed, swallowing
pan after pan of wine, with a thirst which seemed unquenchable.
"That man was a greater wizard than myself," whispered Sebastian,
my guide, "who told us that the drunkards of Finisterra would play
us a trick." At length the old hero of the Cape slowly rose,
saying, that we must hasten on to Corcuvion, or the night would
overtake us by the way.
