that during a short illness which was occasioned by the cold bath I had
taken in the Thames, I was assiduously attended by a female, who, as I
afterwards learnt, was the wife of one of the officers of the vessel. To
this woman who was very kind and attentive to my wants, I applied for
the gratification of my curiosity concerning my preserver, upon which
she informed me that he was a young Spaniard of good family, who
commanded the vessel in which we were then situated.

'This was all I could gather from her, but a day or two afterwards I had
perfectly recovered so that I could verbally thank the generous man who
had saved my life, to his face. After having listened with modest
though marked attention to my warm protestations of gratitude, Don
Almanzor, (for such was his name,) begged me to relate to him the
untoward events which had driven me to desperation and almost death.

'In accordance with his request, I gave him a brief history of my
previous life, after which in view as he said, of my helpless and
desolate condition, he offered to take me to his home in Cuba, where he
informed me I should become an inmate of his father's family, he taking
upon himself to act towards me, in every respect, the part of a friend
and generous brother.

'With redoubled expressions of sincere gratitude and respect, I eagerly
consented to abide by Almanzor's generous offer, and a few days
afterward, the vessel in which I had so strangely become a passenger,
sailed for Havana, where she arrived after a pleasant passage of three
weeks.

'During the voyage, Almanzor treated me with the most delicate attention
and respect, and as he was young, handsome, and unmarried, you will not