gate sailed on, and brought up in the centre of the
squadron.

Soon afterwards a signal from the flag-ship was seen flying, ordering
two boats from each vessel to come alongside. Ours were in the water,
when the captain ordered Martin and three other men, together with
Lancelot, Dick, and me, to go in one of them.

"It may teach you a lesson, lads, which for your own sakes I advise you
not to forget," he said with a significant look.

"I am afraid the captain has an inkling of our plans," whispered
Lancelot to me as we went down the side.

We took our seats in our respective boats, which pulled away up the
harbour. We found numerous other boats, the men resting on their oars
round the flag-ship. Presently a gun was fired from her, and up went
ten human beings dangling by their necks to the yard-arms. Some
struggled in a way it was fearful to look at. They were the men we had
seen on the deck of the frigate, and who had, we heard, attempted to
make their escape in a boat, just as we proposed doing. Such would have
been our fate had we carried out our intention and been captured.

We returned on board very low-spirited.

"We must be careful what we are about," said Lancelot to me; "I have no
fancy to share the lot of those unhappy fellows."

"What's to be done?" I asked.

"Grin and bear it, as Martin would say," he answered.

Although we were not allowed to go on shore, we saw what was taking
place up the harbour. Boats were constantly going backwards and
forwards, carrying the cargoes of the captured vessels to the town,
where the goods were disposed of to eager traders, who came in from all
parts to purchase them--often for less than half their value; but still,
from the number of vessels taken, they must have realised a large profit
to the Prince, seeing that he had paid nothing for them.

The cargoes being discharged, the stouter ships were fitted out with
guns, there being found no lack of men ready to serve under so
successful a corsair, for such the Prince had become.

The fleet being ready, we once more sailed in quest of fresh prizes. I
did not note the number taken, but I often grieved to see the despair of
the poor ship-masters and owners when they found themselves robbed of
their hard-earned gains. No flag protected them--Dutchmen, Spaniards,
Portuguese, Englishmen, all were treated alike. Some fought pretty
hard, especially the English, but the frigates hung about them,
preventing thei