, and I think it probable that she will
accompany some of her relatives to England, so that I cannot hope to
meet her again till we return home; indeed, she is firm in her
determination not to marry, at all events, till I pay off the corvette,
and I suppose she is right, although I would rather make her mine at
once. Archy Gordon, I am thankful to say, under her and her friends'
care, is gradually recovering, and will, I hope, in a few weeks, join
the frigate. However, you must not forget your prize. Here comes your
boat with her skipper."

The Spanish captain now stepped on board, and protested loudly against
the legality of his capture, and declared that the English brig-of-war
had fired into him without provocation, and that he had been obliged to
board her, as the only means of saving his vessel.

"Very probably," answered Jack, "and you expected to take us and our
prizes into the bargain. As to the legality of the affair, that will be
decided when we arrive at Jamaica. In the meantime, as I am
overcrowded, you and your officers will go on board the corvette, where
your wounds will be attended to."

Murray had agreed to relieve Jack of some of his prisoners, and to send
a prize-crew on board the _Caterina_. All arrangements having been
made, the two men-of-war and four prizes made sail for Port Royal.

Scarcely had they got their tacks aboard than a large ship was sighted
from the masthead of the _Tudor_, standing off the land. She was soon
made out to be the _Plantagenet_, which had sailed from Port Royal ten
days before her. The frigate made the signal to close, and the small
squadron was soon hove to at a short distance from her. As directly
afterwards it fell calm, visits were exchanged between the officers of
the different ships. Murray and Jack went on board the _Plantagenet_ to
make their report to Captain Hemming.

"You have had better fortune than we can boast of, Rogers," he said,
laughing in a tone which showed his vexation; "those rascally
slave-dealers have contrived to do us, though, as we are up to their
tricks, I hope that we shall turn the tables on them another time."

When Jack went into the gunroom, Adair gave him an account of the
circumstance to which the captain alluded.

"We were on our way from Jamaica to Havannah, to look after you, Jack,
and to prevent you from getting into mischief or catching a Tartar, as
it seems you nearly did, when the captain thought fit to stand int