Category: Historical Novels
I trust that, before relating the important events of which I have been an eye-witness, I may be allowed to say a few words about my early life and to explain the singular accidents and circumstances which resulted in my being present at our great naval catastrophe.
"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said Marcial, when they laid him down on deck. "However, when the captain commands the men must obey. _Rayo_ is an unlucky name for this c...
8. CHAPTER VIII.I cannot describe the enthusiasm that fired my mind at the sight of Cadiz. As soon as I had a moment to myself--as soon, that is to say, as my master was fairly settled in his c...
4. CHAPTER IV."Señor Marcial," she began, with increased indignation, "if you choose to go to sea again and lose your other hand, you can go if you like; but my husband here, shall not."
12. CHAPTER XII.When the mind had sufficiently recovered from the shock and excitement of battle, and had time to turn from "the pity of it" and the chill of terror left by the sight of that te...
13. CHAPTER XIII.The boat moved on--but whither? Not Marcial himself knew where he was steering her to. The darkness was so complete that we lost sight of the other boats and the lights on board...
11. CHAPTER XI.A vessel in the rear had been the first to fire on the _Royal Sovereign_, commanded by Collingwood, and while that ship carried on the fight with the _Santa Ana_ the Victory cam...
14. CHAPTER XIV.A large part of the night was spent in listening to Malespina's narrative and the experiences of other officers. They were interesting enough to keep me awake and I was so excit...
9. CHAPTER IX.It was the 18th of October. I can have no doubt as to the date because the fleet sailed out of the bay next day. We rose very early and went down to the quay, where a boat was w...
6. CHAPTER VI.I remember very well that the day after the cuffing bestowed on me by Doña Francisca in her wrath at my irreverent conduct and her intense aversion to all naval warfare, I went...
16. CHAPTER XVI.When, I know not how long after, the idea of life dawned once more on my darkened spirit, I was conscious only of being miserably cold; indeed, this was the only fact that made...
5. CHAPTER V.In opposing her husband's insane determination to join the fleet, Doña Francisca did not rely solely on the reasons given in the last chapter; she had another and more weighty o...
1. CHAPTER I.I trust that, before relating the important events of which I have been an eye-witness, I may be allowed to say a few words about my early life and to explain the singular accid...
17. CHAPTER XVII.I postponed the fatal hour when I must face my master as long as possible, but at last my destitute condition, without money and without a home, brought me to the point. As I we...
10. CHAPTER X.On the morning of the 20th there was a stiff breeze blowing and the vessels kept at some distance from each other; but as the wind had moderated soon after noon the admiral sign...
7. CHAPTER VII.The following morning had a great surprise in store for me, and my mistress was thrown into the most violent passion I suppose she can ever have known in her life. When I got up...
2. CHAPTER II.It was on one of the early days of October in that fatal year, 1805, that my worthy master called me into his room and looked at me with the severity that was habitual to him--a...
3. CHAPTER III.Don Alfonso Gutierrez de Cisniega belonged to an old family of Vejer, where he lived. He had been devoted at an early age to a naval career and, while still quite young, had dis...