I think."

"Capital," said the skipper. "Couldn't well be better, except for our
losses in killed and wounded. Let the poor fellows be transferred at
once, if you please, Mr Flinn. When they are all stowed comfortably
away, we will shift the silver into the frigate also; then there will
not be much fear of its recapture. And lastly, we will shift the
prisoners over to the frigate; then the prizes will not require such
large prize crews."

We then went on deck together, and I went away in the launch to effect
the transfer of our killed and wounded. This was a long and painful
business, some of the wounded requiring the most careful handling; but
it was done at last, and by the end of the afternoon watch everything
was ready for us to weigh and proceed to sea again, which we at once
did; the prizes being ordered to rendezvous at Barbadoes.

Mr Vining, the third lieutenant, had charge of the "San Nicolas," while
the "Juanita" was entrusted to Carter, the master's-mate, who had strict
injunctions to stick close to and protect the ship.

We weighed in a body, and stood away to the southward, close-hauled on
the larboard tack; the frigate cracking on, and leaving her prizes to
follow at their best pace. Vining also carried on upon the "San
Nicolas," giving her every stitch of canvas she could show, while Carter
had to haul down a couple of reefs in his mainsail and topsail, reef his
foresail, and stow his flying-jib and fore-topmast-staysail in order to
moderate his speed to that of his consort.

At two bells in the first dog-watch, the crew were mustered, the men
having cleaned and shifted their rig for the occasion, while the
officers appeared in full-dress, sail was shortened, and the ship hove-
to. The bodies of the five poor fellows who had fallen in the attack of
the previous night were placed in the lee gangway, sewn up in their
hammocks, each with an eighteen-pound shot at his feet, and the ensign
spread over them as a pall. The skipper stationed himself at their
heads with the prayer-book in his hand, and, having looked along the
deck fore and aft to satisfy himself that everything was as it should
be, took off his cocked hat, the rest of us uncovering at his example.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth
in Me, though he were _dead_, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth
and believeth in Me shall _never_ die."

The words, in all their solemn beauty of promise, utte