y were not to encumber themselves with any of the money, if there
should happen to be any on board.

The crew were busy during the day making preparations for sailing. The
coxswain had examined the provender in the ship, and found that there
was enough for at least three months, of water, wine, and provisions,
independent of luxuries for the cabin. All thoughts of taking any more
of the vessels were abandoned, for their crew was but weak to manage the
one which they had possession of. A fine breeze sprang up, and they
dropped their fore-topsails, just as a boat was shoving off from the
shore; but seeing the fore-topsails loosed, it put back again. This was
fortunate, or all would have been discovered. The other vessels also
loosed their sails, and the crews were heard weighing the anchors.

But the _Nostra Senora del Carmen_, which was Jack's prize, did not
move. At last the sun went down, the baggage was placed in the cutter,
the ladies and passengers went into the boat, thanking Jack for his
kindness, who put his hand to his heart and bowed to the deck; and the
captain was lowered down after them. Four men well armed pulled them
alongside of the xebeque, put them and their trunks on deck, and
returned to the ship. The cutter was then hoisted up, and as the anchor
was too heavy to weigh, they cut the cable, and made sail. The other
vessels followed their example. Mesty and the seamen cast longing eyes
upon them, but it was of no use; so they sailed in company for about an
hour, and then Jack hauled his wind for a cruise.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

IN WHICH OUR HERO FINDS THAT DISAGREEABLE OCCURRENCES WILL TAKE PLACE ON
A CRUISE.

As soon as the ship had been hauled to the wind, Jack's ship's company
seemed to think that there was nothing to do except to make merry, so
they brought some earthen jars full of wine, and emptied them so fast
that they were soon fast asleep on the deck, with the exception of the
man at the helm, who, instead of thirty-two, could clearly make out
sixty-four points in the compass, and of course was able to steer to a
much greater nicety. Fortunately, the weather was fine, for when the
man at the helm had steered till he could see no more, and requested to
be released, he found that his shipmates were so overpowered with
fatigue, that it was impossible to wake them. He kicked them one by one
most unmercifully in the ribs, but it was of no use: under these
circumstances, he did as