CHAP. LIV.

Guzman is conveyed to Port St. Mary with other honest folks like himself. His adventures on the way, and on board the galleys.

The chain composed of twenty-six young galley-slaves, all decorated with the collar peculiar to the order, being ready to march, we set out for Port St. Mary where the galleys then lay. We were divided into four bands, and chained one to another, and our conductor, escorted by twenty guards, led us along by small days journies. We lay the first night at Cabeças, a village about nine miles from Seville. The next morning, having started again at break of day, we fell in with a lad driving pigs. This unfortunate youth, instead of driving his beasts out of our way, was imprudent enough to allow them to pass between our bands; the consequence of which was, that he lost half of them. In vain did he complain to our conductor, and entreat him to interpose his authority, to oblige us to make restitution; the conductor, who hoped to eat his share, turned a deaf ear to his prayers, and we passed on with our prize, as proud of the exploit, and as joyful as though we had recovered our liberty.

When we arrived at the inn where we stopped to dine, I made a present of my pig to the conductor, who accepted it willingly, and with many thanks. He then asked the people of the house if they could dress it nicely for him; but it was easily to perceive from their answers that they were but little accustomed to cooking. Upon which I told him, that if he would permit my chains to be taken off for one hour only, I would undertake to cook for him, and doubted not that I should give him satisfaction. He did not hesitate to grant this request, and I provided every thing in such good order for him, that he afterwards used me much more kindly than the other prisoners.

Before we left, I had another opportunity of shewing my skill at the inn, where two merchants happened to come in to dine. Finding themselves in such honest company, they became extremely uneasy for their property. One of them seemed determined not to leave any thing that belonged to him out of his sight, and, accordingly, placed his wallet under the table, keeping his foot upon it. I felt a great itch to be a match for this cunning gentleman, and accordingly slipped very gently under the table, and cutting his wallet open with a sharp knife, I drew out two parcels, which I handed over in charge to one of my companions; named Soto, with whom I had become acquainted in prison. When we had left the inn, and had walked about a mile, I requested Soto to give me the parcels, that we might see what our booty consisted of, and divide it. Soto replied that he did not know what I alluded to. I thought at first that he was joking, but that was very far from his thoughts, and he persisted with oaths that he had received nothing of me. When I found he was in earnest, I reproached him with his ingratitude and perfidy; but he only laughed at my reproaches and threats, and kept quiet possession of the parcels. His behaviour quite enraged me, and I resolved to be revenged on him, by explaining the whole affair to the conductor, choosing rather that he should profit by the theft, than such an ungrateful and impudent rascal. This resolution I put into execution at night when we reached the inn where we were to sleep.

I had no sooner related the story to the conductor, than he called Soto before him, and asked him for the two parcels. The rascal answered that he had got nothing of the sort, and that I must be a great rogue to make such an accusation. “You will not give them up with a good grace then!” replied the conductor. “Very well, my friend, we will treat you then as you deserve.” At the same time he ordered the guards to flog him until he confessed. Soto turned pale with fear at this cruel order; and out of regard to his skin, shortly afterwards confessed that the two parcels were concealed in the belly of the pig he had stolen. Here they were found; and when they were opened, it appeared they were full of beads and bracelets of coral adorned with gold, of excellent workmanship. Our conductor, like a man who understood his calling, thrust them all into his own pocket without ceremony, promising me a handsome reward, which, however, I have been expecting to this day; which proves clearly that this description of persons profit by the evil actions of rogues, though they do not participate in their punishment. From that day Soto and I swore eternal hatred to each other.

We pursued our route, and on our arrival at Port St. Mary, we found that six galleys were careening to put to sea. We were confined a few days in prison, after which we were divided into six bands. I was so unfortunate as to be condemned to live in the same galley with Soto. We were carried aboard our galley. I was seated over against the main-mast, and Soto on the master’s bench; so that we seemed doomed to be near each other. The King’s coat was then given us, a red waistcoat, two pair of drawers, two shirts, a red cap, and a sea gown. After which a barber performed the operation of shaving our chins and heads. I regretted the loss of my hair exceedingly, which was long and beautiful. But it was of little consequence; I was now a complete galley-slave, which I should have been long before if I had had my deserts.

As the Commissary is an officer who possesses great authority over the galley-slaves, and which he usually exercises with brutality, my first endeavour was to gain his friendship. He ate and slept very near my seat, and I was always very officious to serve him whenever an opportunity presented itself. I was always the first to anticipate his wants, and testify my extreme desire to be useful to him. All these attentions did not go long unrewarded. I soon perceived that he regarded me with a more favourable eye than the rest. This was a great consolation to me; and to render myself still more worthy of his favour, I redoubled my endeavours to please him: in which I succeeded so well, that he at length never employed any other to assist him, and made me leave my seat to provide his meals for him, having been particularly well pleased with some ragouts I had already made for him. I was not a little proud of this honour, which, in fact, exempted me from my duty as galley-slave.

Our galley was ordered to Cadiz, to take aboard some masts, yards, and ship’s tackling. Here a young lord, who was related to our captain, and a Knight of the Order of St. James’s, came with his baggage on board our galley, intending to make his first expedition. He wore, as was customary in those days, a gold chain; but he had not been a week on board before he lost this. In vain was every exertion made to discover the thief; the chain was not to be found. Upon which the captain recommended his kinsman to take one of the slaves into his service, who should have the care of his chamber, and be responsible for every thing, on pain of being handsomely flogged if any thing were lost. The Knight approved highly of this advice, and the only question now was, which of the slaves should have the honour of serving him. He had heard a good account of my address and capacity, and wished exceedingly to have me. Accordingly, the captain called the commissary before him, and asked him if he was satisfied with my behaviour. The commissary, not knowing the drift of this question, enlarged upon my merit, and spoke so highly in my praise, that the Knight from that moment resolved to select me. I was immediately sent for; he liked my looks, and I was enrolled in his service, to the great regret of the commissary.

Behold me now become a valet-de-chambre to a Knight of St. James. That I might be able to serve him the more commodiously, the first favour he obtained for me was, that I should only be obliged to wear a link on my foot; after which, all his clothes, linen, jewels, and other valuables were told out to me, and given in charge to me, with the recommendation that it would be to my own interest to be faithful and vigilant. I put every thing in such order, that I could see the whole at one view. The servants were expressly forbidden to enter the chamber without my permission, when their master was not in it. This regulation saved me a great deal of trouble in watching these sparks, who were as well versed in legerdemain tricks as any of the slaves on board the galley.

I applied myself assiduously to study the humour and disposition of the Knight, and it was not long ere I was beloved by him, and even esteemed, galley-slave as I was. He felt pleasure in conversing with me, and I appeared to him to possess such good sense, that he sometimes consulted me on the most important occasions. One day he entered his chamber with a thoughtful and melancholy countenance. “My friend,” said he, “one of my uncles has written me a letter which has put me exceedingly out of humour, in which he urges me, if I wish to be heir to all his property, to marry. He has himself grown idle at the Court, without having dared to take that yoke upon himself, which he wishes me to submit to. I know not what answer to make; for I have no inclination at present for matrimony.” “Sir,” replied I, jesting, “were I in your place, I would write word back, that nothing could please me more than to comply with his wishes, provided it were with one of his daughters.” My master laughed most heartily at this advice, which was only meant by me as a joke, and declared that he would write those very words, which he doubted not would rid him of any further importunity.