they sang melancholy songs to the Negroes； and that this melancholy tone was more inflaming than a different one would have been； and was so intended； that all this is believed； because the Negroes have said it。 …That of the thirty…six men of the crew… exclusive of the passengers （all of whom are now dead）； which the deponent had knowledge of… six only remained alive； with four cabin…boys and ship…boys； not included with the crew；。。。。 …that the Negroes broke an arm of one of the cabin…boys and gave him strokes with hatchets。
＇Then follow various random disclosures referring to various periods of time。 The following are extracted：＇
…That during the presence of Captain Amasa Delano on board； some attempts were made by the sailors； and one by Hermenegildo Gandix； to convey hints to him of the true state of affairs； but that these attempts were ineffectual； owing to fear of incurring death； and furthermore owing to the devices which offered contradictions to the true state of affairs； as well as owing to the generosity and piety of Amasa Delano； incapable of sounding such wickedness；。。。 that Luys Galgo； a sailor about sixty years of age； and formerly of the king's navy； was one of those who sought to convey tokens to Captain Amasa Delano； but his intent； though undiscovered； being suspected； he was； on a pretence； made to retire out of sight； and at last into the hold； and there was made away with。 This the Negroes have since said；。。。 that one of the ship…boys feeling； from Captain Amasa Delano's presence； some hopes of release； and not having enough prudence； dropped some chance…word respecting his expectations； which being overheard and understood by a slave…boy with whom he was eating at the time； the latter struck him on the head with a knife； inflicting a bad wound； but of which the boy is now healing； that likewise； not long before the ship was brought to anchor； one of the seamen； steering at the time； endangered himself by letting the blacks remark a certain unconscious hopeful expression in his countenance； arising from some cause similar to the above； but this sailor； by his heedful after conduct； escaped；。。。 that these statements are made to show the court that from the beginning to the end of the revolt； it was impossible for the deponent and his men to act otherwise than they did；。。。 …that the third clerk； Hermenegildo Gandix； who before had been forced to live among the seamen； wearing a seaman's habit； and in all respects appearing to be one for the time； he； Gandix； was killed by a musket…ball fired through a mistake from the American boats before boarding； having in his fright ran up the mizzen…rigging； calling to the boats… 〃don't board；〃 lest upon their boarding the Negroes should kill him； that this inducing the Americans to believe he some way favoured the cause of the Negroes； they fired two balls at him； so that he fell wounded from the rigging； and was drowned in the sea；。。。 …that the young Don Joaquin； Marques de Aramboalaza； like Hermenegildo Gandix； the third clerk； was degraded to the office and appearance of a common seaman； that upon one occasion； when Don Joaquin shrank； the Negro Babo commanded the Ashantee Lecbe to take tar and heat it； and pour it upon Don Joaquin's hands；。。。 …that Don Joaquin was killed owing to another mistake of the Americans； but one impossible to be avoided； as upon the approach of the boats； Don Joaquin； with a hatchet tied edge out and upright to his hand； was made by the Negroes to appear on the bulwarks； whereupon； seen with arms in his hands and in a questionable attitude； he was shot for a renegade seaman；。。。 …that on the person of Don Joaquin was found secreted a jewel； which； by papers that were discovered； proved to have been meant for the shrine of our Lady of Mercy in Lima； a votive offering； beforehand prepared and guarded； to attest his gratitude； when he should have landed in Peru； his last destination； for the safe conclusion of his entire voyage from Spain；。。。 …that the jewel； with the other effects of the late Don Joaquin； is in the custody of the brethren of the Hospital de Sacerdotes； awaiting the decision of the honourable court；。。。 …that； owing to the condition of the deponent； as well as the haste in which the boats departed for the attack； the Americans were not forewarned that there were； among the apparent crew； a passenger and one of the clerks disguised by the Negro Babo；。。。 …that； beside the Negroes killed in the action； some were killed after the capture and re…anchoring at night； when shackled to the ring…bolts on deck； that these deaths were committed by the sailors； ere they could be prevented。 That so soon as informed of it； Captain Amasa Delano used all his authority； and； in particular with his own hand； struck down Martinez Gola； who； having found a razor in the pocket of an old jacket of his； which one of the shackled Negroes had on； was aiming it at the Negro's throat； that the noble Captain Amasa Delano also wrenched from the hand of Bartholomew Barlo； a dagger secreted at the time of the massacre of the whites； with which he was in the act of stabbing a shackled Negro； who； the same day； with another Negro； had thrown him down and jumped upon him；。。。 that； for all the events； befalling through so long a time； during which the ship was in the hands of the Negro Babo； he cannot here give account； but that； what he has said is the most substantial of what occurs to him at present； and is the truth under the oath which he has taken； which declaration he affirmed and ratified； after hearing it read to him。 He said that he is twenty…nine years of age； and broken in body and mind； that when finally dismissed by the court； he shall not return home to Chili； but betake himself to the monastery on Mount Agonia without； and signed with his honour； and crossed himself； and； for the time； departed as he came； in his litter； with the monk Infelez； to the Hospital de Sacerdotes。 BENITO CERENO。 DOCTOR ROZAS。
If the deposition of Benito Cereno has served as the key to fit into the lock of the complications which preceded it； then； as a vault whose door has been flung back； the San Dominick's hull lies open to…day。 Hitherto the nature of this narrative； besides rendering the intricacies in the beginning unavoidable； has more or less required that many things； instead of being set down in the order of occurrence； should be retrospectively； or irregularly given； this last is the case with the following passages； which will conclude the account： During the long； mild voyage to Lima； there was； as before hinted； a period during which Don Benito a little recovered his health； or； at least in some degree； his tranquillity。 Ere the decided relapse which came； the two captains had many cordial conversations… their fraternal unreserve in singular contrast with former withdrawments。 Again and again； it was repeated； how hard it had been to enact the part forced on the Spaniard by Babo。 〃Ah； my dear Don Amasa；〃 Don Benito once said； 〃at those very times when you thought me so morose and ungrateful… nay when； as you now admit； you half thought me plotting your murder… at those very times my heart was frozen； I could not look at you； thinking of what； both on board this ship and your own； hung； from other hands； over my kind benefactor。 And as God lives； Don Amasa； I know not whether desire for my own safety alone could have nerved me to that leap into your boat； had it not been for the thought that； did you； unenlightened； return to your ship； you； my best friend； with all who might be with you； stolen upon； that night； in your hammocks； would never in this world have wakened again。 Do but think how you walked this deck； how you sat in this cabin； every inch of ground mined into honey…combs under you。 Had I dropped the least hint； made the least advance toward an understanding between us； death； explosive death… yours as mine… would have ended the scene。〃 〃True； true；〃 cried Captain Delano； starting； 〃you saved my life； Don Benito； more than I yours； saved it； too； against my knowledge and will。〃 〃Nay； my friend；〃 rejoined the Spaniard； courteous even to the point of religion； 〃God charmed your life； but you saved mine。 To think of some things you did… those smilings and chattings； rash pointings and gesturings。 For less than these； they slew my mate； Raneds； but you had the Prince of Heaven's safe conduct through all ambuscades。〃 〃Yes； all is owing to Providence； I know； but the temper of my mind that morning was more than commonly pleasant； while the sight of so much suffering… more apparent than real… added to my good nature； compassion； and charity； happily interweaving the three。 Had it been otherwise； doubtless； as you hint； some of my interferences with the blacks might have ended unhappily enough。 Besides that； those feelings I spoke of enabled me to get the better of momentary distrust； at times when acuteness might have cost me my life； without saving another's。 Only at the end did my suspicions get the better of me； and you know how wide of the mark they then proved。〃 〃Wide； indeed；〃 said Don Benito； sadly； 〃you were with me all day； stood with me； sat with me； talked with me； looked at me； ate with me； drank with me； and yet； your last act was to clutch for a villain； not only an innocent man； but the most pitiable of all men。 To such degree may malign machinations and deceptions impose。 So far may even the best men err； in judging the conduct of one with the recesses of whose condition he is not acquainted。 But you were forced to it； and you were in time undeceived。 Would that； in both respects； it was so ever； and with all men。〃 〃I think I understand you； you generalize； Don Benito； and mournfully enough。 But the past is passed； why moralize upon it？ Forget it。 See； yon bright sun has forgotten it all； and the blue sea； and the blue sky； these have turned over new leaves。〃 〃Because they have no memory；〃 he dejectedly replied； 〃because they are not human。〃 〃But these mild trades that now fan your cheek； Don Benito； do they not come with a human…like healing to you？ Warm friends； steadfast friends are the trades。〃 〃With their steadfastness they b