e of the cargo.

CHAPTER THREE.

A CAPTURE AND A RECAPTURE.

A fortnight from the day on which Captain Leicester signed the
charter-party saw the last package passed into the _Aurora's_ hold, and
on the following day she sailed for Plymouth, there to join a fleet of
merchant-ships which were to cross the Atlantic under convoy.

Thanks principally to the exertions of his chief mate, Mr Bowen, George
was fortunate enough to pick up a very good crew, comprising a second
mate--who acted also as boatswain--a carpenter, a steward, a black cook,
two able-seamen, four ordinary ditto, and two well-grown lads, who had
already been a voyage or two in a coaster. This constituted a
complement of fourteen men, all told; just sufficient to handle the
barque comfortably.

They sailed from the Thames with the wind at about west, and had a
capital run as far as the South Foreland, the _Aurora_ showing herself
to be such a smart vessel under her canvas that her commander was
delighted with her.

At this point, however, the wind, which still held from the westward,
was dead against them, and it became a question whether they should
anchor in the Downs to await a favourable change, or continue on and
endeavour to beat a passage as far as Plymouth. Prudence dictated the
adoption of the former course; it being well known that the Channel was
just then swarming with French privateers--powerful luggers for the most
part--the captains of which had an unpleasant habit of slipping out of
harbour as the evening came on, and stretching across toward the English
coast, on the lookout for our merchantmen, very often picking up a
valuable prize and getting back into port the next morning. The
weather, too, happened just then to be highly favourable for the
operations of these gentry, the sky being overcast with frequent
showers, and no moon.

On the other hand, however, time was of the utmost importance; George
had only five days left him in which to reach Plymouth, if he was to
avail himself of the protection of convoy; so, after discussing the
question with Mr Bowen, and carefully weighing it in his own mind, he
finally decided to keep the ship moving, and to trust to fortune and a
good lookout.

The _Aurora_ accordingly proceeded, stretching over as far as
mid-channel, when she went about; and on drawing in with the land again
Leicester had the satisfaction of seeing that she would handsomely
weather Beachy Head, which she did, tac