human
It was lucky for you that five or six of our number were killed by that discharge of grape you gave us, one of them said,
gpt
How long have you been here?
human
I hardly know, the other replied;
gpt
Then you must be an Englishman!
human
I have never thought to hear my own tongue again, lad, he said, holding out his hand.
gpt
Aye, I am English, and was one of Hawkins' men. But how come you to be in a Spanish ship? I have heard our masters say, when talking together, that there is war now between the English and Spaniards; that is, war at home. There has always been war out on the Spanish Main, but they know nothing of that.
human
I was made prisoner in a fight we had with the great Spanish Armada off Gravelines,
gpt
We heard a year ago from some Spaniards they captured that a great fleet was being prepared to conquer England; but no news has come to us since. We are the only galley here, and as our benches were full, the prisoners they have taken since were sent off at once to Algiers or other ports, so we have heard nothing. But I told the Spaniards that if Drake and Hawkins were in England when their great fleet got there, they were not likely to have it all their own way. Tell me all about it, lad. You do not know how hungry I am for news from home.
human
These fellows, he said, pointing to the other galley-slaves,