en lowered into one of the boats with the
two skippers and mates; the officer handed Miss O'Regan and Polly down
into the boat, and placed her alongside her father, we kept close to
them; the Spanish crew, who were now in charge of the vessel, turned no
very friendly glances at us, and I saw several of the villains clutch
their knives as if they would like to stick them into our backs as we
passed. In a few minutes we were alongside the corvette.

"The commanding officer, who seemed to consider himself a very great man
indeed, received us on the quarter-deck. He bowed politely to the young
lady, but spoke roughly to the colonel and the rest of us. After
hearing the account the fat officer gave of the midshipmen, he told us
we might remain with Miss O'Regan if we pleased, but the rest of the
party were made to sit down between the guns with a guard over them.
The boats now brought the crews of the brig and sloop on board with
their arms lashed behind their backs. The men growled and grumbled as
may be supposed, but the Spaniards showed them the points of their
knives, and told them to keep silent.

"Poor Miss O'Regan looked very downcast, though the midshipmen did their
best to keep up her spirits by telling her that they were sure the
Spaniards would not dare to hurt her or any of us, let them bluster and
threaten as they might.

"The Spanish officers were polite enough, and begged her to go into the
cabin and take some refreshment, but she refused to leave the deck
unless her father was allowed to accompany her; they, however, brought
her a chair which she was thankful to sit down on, while the midshipmen,
who looked upon themselves as her guard, stood around her.

"As soon as the sea-breeze set in, sail was made, and the corvette,
followed by the brig and schooners, stood away for the harbour of
Carthagena, while the _Sarah Jane_ and sloop put back into the bay.

"We reached Carthagena in the afternoon, and brought up before the town.
As soon as the anchor was dropped, the commodore went on shore to
communicate with the government, and to learn what he was to do with his
prisoners; some time before nightfall he came back, and he gave orders
that we were all to be landed forthwith and marched up to the common
gaol; so I made this out from what the fat officer said to the young
gentlemen.

"No one was allowed to speak to the colonel, not even his own daughter;
as soon as she found that her father was to be tak