I thought it just
possible there might be letters for me, if not from my father at least
from Inez; and I was just about to return on board the schooner to give
the necessary orders, when a midshipman, who had accompanied the first
lieutenant of the _Dido_ on board the prize to take possession, returned
with the information that the frigate was named the _Cythere_, mounting
thirty-two twelve-pounders, with a crew originally of three hundred and
twenty-eight all told; her loss during the action amounting to thirty
two killed and sixty-eight wounded, her captain being among the former.

By eight bells in the afternoon watch we had managed to make up between
us and transfer to the frigate a very respectable prize-crew, after
which hawsers were passed on board the prize from the _Dido_ and the
_Dolphin_, the brig taking up a position upon the frigate's larboard bow
whilst we stationed ourselves on the starboard, when sail was made upon
both the towing vessels and we shaped a course for Jamaica, the prize-
crew busying themselves meanwhile in getting up new spars and repairing
damages in the standing and running rigging. By daylight next morning
this was so far accomplished that we were able to cast off the towing
hawsers, when the three craft proceeded in company, arriving without
mishap or adventure in Port Royal harbour on the morning of the sixth
day succeeding the action.

Commander Venn was as good as his word in framing his report of the
capture, in consequence of which I rose higher than ever in the favour
of the admiral, who showed his appreciation of our services by filling
up our provisions and water with all possible speed and hurrying us off
to sea again.

As I had hoped, there were two letters for me, one from my father and
one from Inez; but as the former was written in the same unsatisfactory
strain as those which had preceded it, and as the latter contained
nothing of interest to anyone but myself, I shall not trouble the reader
with even so much as an extract from either, but pass on to incidents
which were destined to very materially affect the happiness of my whole
future life, and that of others as well. Having filled up our
provisions and water, as already stated, and having received on board
again the hands who had helped to take the _Cythere_ into port, we
sailed once more on the second day following our arrival, and proceeded
again over the ground we had already beaten so successfully. We were