e was soon brought
close alongside of the brig.

"Have you suffered much, Captain Lockett?"

"I am sorry to say we have had six men killed, and five wounded. We
have got a dozen shot in our stern. They were evidently trying to
damage the rudder but, beyond knocking the cabin fittings to
pieces, there is no more harm done than the carpenter can repair,
in a few hours' work.

"You have not been hit again, have you?"

"No, sir; none of their shots came near."

"Well, examine the papers, and have a talk with the officers you
made prisoners, and then come on board to report. I shall want you
to go on board the barque with me, and see what she is laden with."

Bob went below. The two Spanish mates were unbound.

"I am sorry, senors," Bob said, "that we were obliged to treat you
rather roughly; but you see, we were in a hurry, and there was no
time for explanations. I shall be obliged if you will show me which
is the captain's cabin, and hand me over the ship's papers and
manifesto. What is her name?"

"The Braganza."

"Where are you from? And what do you carry?"

"We are from Cadiz, and are laden principally with wine. We were
bound for Barcelona.

"You took us in nicely, senor. Who could have dreamt that you were
English, when that frigate chased you under the guns of the
battery?"

"She thought we were Spanish, as you did," Bob said.

By this time the other Spaniard had brought the papers out of the
captain's cabin. Bob ran his eye down over the bill of lading, and
was well satisfied with the result. She contained a very large
consignment of wine.

"I am going on board the brig," he said, as he put the papers
together. "I must ask you to give me your parole not to leave the
cabin, until I return. I do not know whether my captain wishes you
to remain here, or will transfer you to his own craft."

"Well, Master Bob, what is your prize?" the captain asked.

"It is a valuable one, sir. The polacre herself is, as I see by her
papers, only two years old, and seems a fine craft. She is laden
with wine, from Cadiz, to Barcelona."

"Capital, Bob; we are in luck, indeed! How many prisoners have you
got?"

"The crew is put down at eighteen, sir; and there are the two
mates."

"You had better send them on board here, presently. Where are they
now?"

"They are in the cabin, captain. They gave me their promise not to
leave it, till I return; but I put a man on sentry, outside, so as
to make sure of them."