When all the goods were on board fire was applied to the storehouses
and huts. The two vessels were then towed out of the harbor, and
hoisting sail made for Port Royal. The winds were light, and it was
six days before they entered the harbor. A signal was at once hoisted
from the flagship there for the captain to come on board.
"I have no doubt he is in a towering rage at our appearance," Captain
Wilson said to the first lieutenant; "but I fancy he will change his
tone pretty quickly when he learns what we have got on board. His
share of the prize money will come to a pretty penny."
The next morning a number of lighters came alongside the ships, and
the work of discharging the cargo commenced. After breakfast Ralph and
Jacques were rowed ashore.
"You will want some money to pay for your passage, young gentleman."
Captain Wilson said to Ralph before leaving the ship. "I will
authorize you to tell an agent that I will be security for the payment
of your passage-money."
"I am very much obliged to you, sir," Ralph replied; "but I shall work
my way home if I can. I have learned to be pretty handy on board the
privateer, and I would as lief be working forward as dawdling about
aft all the way home. Beside, I don't want to inconvenience my mother
by her being called upon suddenly to pay thirty or forty pounds
directly I get home.
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