After a short consultation with his lieutenants, Commander Olding
despatched all his own boats, and two of the _Research's_ which had
escaped injury, to bring off the remainder of the officers and crew,
with provisions, ammunition, and stores, and four guns to increase the
armament of the _Research_. These would make her more than a match for
the _Ouzel Galley_. He also directed that the guns left in the fort
should be spiked, as too much time would be lost in bringing them down
to the beach and throwing them into deep water.

"It will matter little, however, if the Spaniards do take possession of
the island, as no one would wish to deprive them of it," he observed to
Mr Tarwig.

"I should think not, sir; and, for my part, I hope never to set eyes on
it again," was the answer.

The boats made several trips, the whole day being expended in bringing
off the stores. The carpenters had in the mean time plugged all the
shot-holes, while the boatswain and the men working under him rove fresh
braces, fished the damaged spars, and repaired all the standing rigging,
so that by the following morning the _Research_ was ready to proceed on
the expedition.

The commander had had another interview with Michael Dillon, who swore
solemnly that neither Captain Tracy nor his daughter, nor the other old
captain, had received the slightest injury. He had seen them, he
declared, taken on board the _Ouzel Galley_. The young lady's trunks
and their valises had also been removed with them.

"And what became of the rest of the officers and crew of the
merchantman?" asked the commander.

"They were mostly expended before we boarded," answered Dillon, coolly.
"They were knocked on the head by our shot; others who resisted were cut
down, and the remainder were taken on board our vessel."

"Are they still on board her?" asked Commander Olding.

"As to that, sir, I cannot say," answered Dillon; "but our captain was
in good humour, and may have spared their lives, though I will own it is
not always his custom to let his prisoners live. He ordered me, with
the hands you found on board, to take charge of the prize, and to follow
him as soon as I could get her into seaworthy trim."

Gerald was satisfied that one part of Dillon's statement was correct, as
on examining the cabin he could find none of his sister's trunks, nor
any in either his father's or Captain O'Brien's cabins, although nothing
else had apparently been removed from the s