ing thus wrought them up to a proper pitch of
indignation, I unfolded to them my somewhat hazy plans, and inquired
whether they were disposed to aid me in them. To my delight, I found
that they were with me, heart and soul. They had never very greatly
relished their compulsory service aboard the schooner, and now that they
were made aware of her true character and that of her crew, they
professed themselves ready and eager to do anything I might propose in
order to escape the thraldom of a continuation of such service and
companionship. Whereupon I bade them accept all the drink that might be
offered them, but to religiously abstain from swallowing another drop of
it, and to hold themselves in readiness to act under my leadership
whenever I might deem that the favourable moment for such action had
arrived.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

WE TURN THE TABLES UPON MONSIEUR RENOUF.

It was drawing well on toward sunset when Renouf, having apparently
appropriated all the most valuable portions of the Spaniard's cargo that
he could readily lay hands on, began to clear his disorderly rabble of a
crew out of the ship, sending them aboard the schooner, a boatload at a
time, and, to my surprise, using the Spanish boats, as well as his own,
for this purpose. Meanwhile, the stories told by the men who had from
time to time come from the Spanish ship had had the effect of gradually
enticing the more sober half out of the schooner and on board the _Santa
Theresa_, until the _Jean Bart_ had at length been left practically in
possession of us five Englishmen, and some thirty Frenchmen, the whole
of whom were more or less helplessly drunk. And, this being the state
of things on board the schooner, it would have been a comparatively easy
matter for us five to have overpowered the Frenchmen, who were lying or
staggering about the decks, and to have made off with the vessel; but
not even to secure our liberty did I consider that I should have been
justified in leaving Renouf and the bulk of his ruffians on board the
_Santa Theresa_, to wreak his vengeance on the hapless crew and
passengers. At length pretty nearly all the Frenchmen, save Renouf, his
brother, and some half a dozen more, had rejoined the schooner, and I
perceived with intense satisfaction that, although they were, without
exception, in an almost helpless state of intoxication, every man
brought with him at least a couple of bottles of wine or spirits; some
men brought as ma