a
prize as well. I therefore abandoned the idea, the more readily that I
knew my story need only be told to the proper authorities to cause the
brigantine to be hunted off the ocean, and her atrocities put an end to
at once and for all.

Our arrangements, therefore, were soon made; and this done, we sauntered
away to the hatchway, singly and by twos at a time, and began to lend a
hand in getting the plunder out of the boats and sending it below.
Presently the _Bangalore's_ long-boat came alongside, loaded down to the
gunwale with booty, and manned by half-a-dozen Spaniards who were so
drunk that they could scarcely stand. One of them, indeed, would have
lost his life but for Simpson and Maxwell; for the boat was steered
alongside stem-on, and the shock of her collision with the brigantine
completely upset the balance of the man who was standing in the bows to
fend her off, so that he fell overboard between the boat and the
brigantine's side. The fellow was partially sobered by his sudden
immersion, and finding himself overboard, began at once to sing out
lustily for help, fully aware that there were probably several sharks
still hanging about the two vessels, and momentarily expecting to feel
their teeth; whereupon Simpson and Maxwell, both of whom happened to be
at the gangway at the moment of the accident, sprang down into the boat
and succeeded in dragging the fellow safely out of the water, though not
a moment too soon, the water being all a-swirl with the rush of the
sea-monsters as the man was dragged inboard. The fright that he had
received completely sobered him, but at the same time so thoroughly
shook his nerves that he at once scrambled on board the brigantine,
declaring with many oaths that he had had enough of boating for one
night. His mates were but little better, and were glad enough to leave
the boat at my suggestion and allow me and my party to take their
places.

We quickly roused the boat's cargo out of her, and then shoved off for
the ship again, making a great fuss and splash with the oars as we did
so. When a few fathoms away from the brigantine, however, where in the
darkness our movements were not likely to attract a too curious
attention, first one oar and then another was laid in until all had been
laid in but one; and this one we shifted aft, sculling the boat with it
not to the _Bangalore's_ larboard gangway, at which the other boats were
working, but under the ship's stern and to h