o
Cadiz. A prize crew was immediately put on board, and the prisoners
were removed to the "Pallas." They pulled their moustaches, lit their
cigars, and resigned themselves to their lot. By dawn the next morning
the "Carolina," in charge of her new masters, with Glover as commander,
was on her way to Plymouth.

Lord Claymore's satisfaction was not small when he discovered that the
"Carolina" formed one of a large convoy, and that it was believed the
other ships were astern. Sharper than ever was the look-out kept for a
strange sail. Day after day passed, however, and no merchantman or
other ships appeared. Hardman began to crow, though the loss was his as
well as that of the rest: it was an odd amusement, though some men will
suffer anything to prove that they are true prophets.

A week had passed.

"I told you so, Morton," he observed. "There's many a slip between the
cup and the lip. The convoy probably stole by us during the night when
some of our volunteers, who had been keeping so sharp a look-out during
the day, were nodding."

"Sail ho!" was sung out at that moment in a loud cheerful tone from the
mast-head.

"Who'll prove right now?" exclaimed Morton, as he sprang aloft with his
glass at his back.

Others were looking-out likewise. All sail was instantly made in chase.
It was some time, however, before it could be made out whether the
stranger was friend or foe, man-of-war or merchantman. At last Hardman
condescended to take a look at her.

"Those sails have a decided English cut about them," he observed, in a
tone of satisfaction. "Depend on it she's not got a dollar on board
that will ever enter our pockets."

"To my mind," observed Job Truefitt, who with Bob Doull was standing on
the fore-topgallant cross-trees, "that craft out there looks as if she
was come from the land where the gold and silver grows. He looks like a
Don, every inch of him. Mark my words, mate, we shall line our pockets
with the rhino, and have a pretty handsome sum to take home to our old
mothers or sweethearts."

"Well for those who have them, but I have neither one nor t'other,"
answered Bob. "I've made up my mind to have a jolly spree on shore, and
live like a lord till it's all gone."

"That won't be long, I suspect," said Job.

The conversation was cut short by a summons on deck. The frigate was
nearing the chase. The whole of her hull could now be seen clearly from
the deck. As to her character there w