“Yes, her wings are clipped for the present,” Captain Chambers replied.  “Of course those rascals carried off the pick of their booty with them; but we may be well content with what they left behind.  It will be the best haul that we have made for some years.  As a rule, the most we have to hope for is the money fetched by the sale of any privateer we may catch, and they generally go for next to nothing.  I retract what I said—­that I would give my share of the prize-money to come up with the privateers.  I certainly never calculated on such a haul as this.  I suppose they intend to have gone on storing away their booty till the war came to an end, and then to have chartered a dozen ships to carry it away.”

Captain Wilson had introduced Ralph to the midshipmen, telling them he would be in their mess till he reached port.  He was soon at home among them, and his clothes were replaced by some they lent him.  Jacques made himself equally at home among the crew.  Captain Wilson had intimated to the first lieutenant that the man was not to be considered as a prisoner, but as a castaway, picked up on the island; and from his cheery temper, his willingness to lend a hand and make himself useful in any way, and his knowledge of their language, he was soon a favorite with them.

When all the goods were on board fire was applied to the storehouses and huts.  The two vessels were then towed out of the harbor, and hoisting sail made for Port Royal.  The winds were light, and it was six days before they entered the harbor.  A signal was at once hoisted from the flagship there for the captain to come on board.

“I have no doubt he is in a towering rage at our appearance,” Captain Wilson said to the first lieutenant; “but I fancy he will change his tone pretty quickly when he learns what we have got on board.  His share of the prize money will come to a pretty penny.”

The next morning a number of lighters came alongside the ships, and the work of discharging the cargo commenced.  After breakfast Ralph and Jacques were rowed ashore.

“You will want some money to pay for your passage, young gentleman.”  Captain Wilson said to Ralph before leaving the ship.  “I will authorize you to tell an agent that I will be security for the payment of your passage-money.”

“I am very much obliged to you, sir,” Ralph replied; “but I shall work my way home if I can.  I have learned to be pretty handy on board the privateer, and I would as lief be working forward as dawdling about aft all the way home.  Beside, I don’t want to inconvenience my mother by her being called upon suddenly to pay thirty or forty pounds directly I get home.  I have caused her trouble enough as it is.”

“That’s, right, my lad,” the captain said.  “I like your spirit.  Have you money enough to pay for your hotel expenses while you are waiting for a ship?”

“Yes, thank you, sir.  The French captain said I had fairly earned wages, and gave me ten napoleons when he started.”