ten o'clock
It appeared that they had waited anxiously for my return , and had only finally given up hope at nightfall , by which time they had arrived at the conclusion that the blacks had got me and carried me away into the mountains to torture me to death . They told me that they had mourned for me as for a brother , and their delight at finding I still lived convinced me of the truth of the assertion . Later I learned that the Mendouca family were still enjoying Don Luis ' hospitality , pending the rebuilding of Montpelier . It was not until after ten o'clock that night that I succeeded in dragging myself away from Bella Vista , and only then upon the promise , which I most willingly gave , to keep in touch with them by letter , and repeat my visit as often as possible . But so far as the latter part of my promise was concerned , fate was against me , for I never again was privileged to meet any of them . It was six bells of the first watch when I reached the _ Berwick Castle _ , by which time the land-breeze was piping up strong ; and as soon as the boat was hoisted to the davits we filled away for Port Royal , where we arrived in due course , and landed our prisoners , to the number of twenty-three . Three weeks later they underwent their trial for piracy on the high seas , and , the evidence against them being overwhelming , they were all hanged at Gallows Point a fortnight after their conviction .