ple to throng
on board to learn all the news about the _Policy's_ prize. As Captain
Foster made his way to the quarter-deck, he saw that behind the Governor
and his staff were Dolly and her parents and several ladies.

In a very few minutes he made his report, and the Governor again shook
his hand warmly; but the look in Dolly's eyes and the pressure of her
hand were the young seaman's sweetest reward, for it told him that she
had surrendered.

Then, returning to his own ship, he was warmly greeted by Sergeant Burt,
and for a few moments the two remained talking in the whaler's cabin.
Then, just as Foster was ready to go ashore, Mr. Scarsbrook, who had
been inspecting the captured privateer, came on board, bringing Dolly
with him.

Whilst they were all chatting merrily together Captain Portveldt made
his appearance, and with the most perfect _sang-froid_ saluted Dolly and
her father.

"Veil, Mees Dorotee, you see I have gome back, at der bressing
invidadion of mein goot friendt, Captain Voster here, und I do vish him
mit you blendy of habbiness."

And Dolly, who at first meant to meet him with a sarcastic little
speech, felt her eyes fill with tears at the manly way in which he bore
his misfortune, and could only falter out some few words of consolation.
Then there was a Prize Court, and--

"Mr. Charles Sparrow Foster, commander of the whaler and letter of
marque called the _Policy_, presented to the Court a memorial stating
his capture of the _Swift_ on the 12th day of September, off the island
of Flores, she being under Dutch colours... and the property of subjects
of a Power at war with his Britannic Majesty, and praying also that the
Court would be pleased to grant an award of condemnation in his favour
in order that the said prize should be for the advantage of himself, his
owners, and his ship's company."

and the Court having heard confirmatory evidence from Richard Portveldt,
a subject of the Batavian Republic, to the effect--

"That he commanded the _Swift_; that everything on board of her was
Dutch property, and she belonged to Messrs. Winy and Talman, of Batavia,
and himself, all of whom were residents of Batavia, who purchased her
for the sum of 18,000 dols.: that she was taken up by the Dutch East
India Company at Batavia; and was on her way thither when she was
captured by the _Policy_, &c."--

accordingly condemned the prize, which was advertised in the _Sydney
Gazette_ for sale by auction, Mr