me apparent that the English were
about to transfer the treasure from the plate ships' strong rooms to
their own; nay more, they even assisted in the transfer, when commanded
to do so, although it must be confessed that they worked with sullen
countenances, and many muttered threats and grumblings.

There were twelve plate ships in the harbour, of which number ten were
fully loaded; but when it came to inspecting the strong rooms of these
ships it was found that all twelve of them had received their full
complement of treasure, consisting of silver bars, gold bricks--each
separately sewn up in its casing of hide, as transported from the
mines--and one large chest of pearls, the proceeds of the whole previous
year's fishing in the adjacent waters. The gold and silver also
represented a whole year's produce of the mines; and so enormous was the
quantity of the precious metals that its transfer to the _Nonsuch_
occupied six entire days; while, when at length the task was completed,
the _Nonsuch_, stout ship as she was, floated the deeper by a good five
strakes!

The work was completed on a certain day, about an hour after sunset; and
at the very urgent request of the alcalde and his friends the hostages,
George arranged to leave the port forthwith; for although no actual
demonstration had been made against the ship, news had come off from the
shore, from time to time, to the effect that the whole town was seething
with indignation at the sight of such an enormous amount of treasure
being seized by the hated English, while the soldiery were going about
the streets breathing fire and slaughter and doing their utmost to
incite the town folk to unite with them in a determined effort to
recapture the treasure and annihilate the English pirates; while, as the
time went on, it became perfectly evident that only the fear of
bombardment restrained the civilians from entertaining the proposal;
and, even so, the alcalde was in a perfect agony of fear lest, despite
all the efforts of his friends ashore, some rash act on the part of the
soldiery and the rougher element among the civilians, should yet
precipitate a catastrophe. Therefore, no sooner was the last gold brick
transferred than the alcalde and his fellow prisoners overwhelmed George
with most urgent solicitations that, having now accomplished all he had
planned, he would proceed to sea forthwith; which, there being no reason
to the contrary, the young captain willingly con