f we put
down the value of those two cargoes at L10,000. The two vessels will sell
for about L1000 apiece, so that the prize-money will be altogether about
L12,000, and even after putting aside my portion you will all share to a
handsome amount in the proceeds. That is the advantage of not belonging to
a squadron. In that case your share would not be worth anything like what
it will now be. By the way, since you have been absent I have received the
account of the prize-money earned by the _Furious_ in the Mediterranean
and by the capture of the French frigates. It amounts in all to L35,000.
Of course as a midshipman your share will not be very large; probably,
indeed, it will not exceed L250, so, you see, pirate-hunting in the West
Indies, in command even of a small craft, pays enormously better than
being a midshipman on board a frigate."

"It does indeed, sir, though L250 would be a fortune to a midshipman."

"Well, if our calculations as to the value of the cargoes and ships are
correct, you will get more than ten times that amount now. And as there
are only the flag and one other officer to share with you, the men's
portion will be something like L100 apiece. A few more captures like
this," and he laughed, "and you will become a rich man."

He then rowed away to his own ship, and Will returned to _L'Agile_ and
gladdened the hearts of Harman and the crew with the news of the value of
their captures. _L'Agile_ remained another week in harbour, during which
time all signs of the recent conflict were removed, and he received a
draft of men sufficient to bring his crew up to its former level. Then she
again set sail.

They had cruised for about a fortnight when one morning, just as Will was
getting up, Dimchurch ran down and reported that they had sighted two
sails suspiciously near each other. "One," he said, "looks to me a
full-rigged ship, and the other a large schooner."

"I will have a look at them," Will said, and, putting on his clothes, he
ran on deck.

"Yes, it certainly looks suspicious," he said, when he had examined them
through his telescope; "we will head towards them."

"She looks to me a very large schooner, sir," said Dimchurch.

"Yes, she is larger than these pirates generally are, but there is very
little doubt as to her character. How far are they off, do you think?"

"Ten miles, sir, I should say; but we have got the land-breeze while they
are becalmed. By the look of the water I should say