CHAPTER XXIV.
_Crowded with prisoners--Chasing a friend--At Jamaica--Enthusiastic reception--Rest on shore--Speech making--Up anchor!--A prize--Case of the Golden Rule--Reinstating the discipline--Capture of the Chastelain--San Domingo--The Palmetto--Men of the day in the United States._ The Alabama's little fighting holiday was over, and she returned to her appointed task of annoying the enemy's commerce.

Her course lay towards Jamaica, the captain being anxious to relieve himself as soon as possible of the nest of prisoners that crowded his decks, and were necessarily the occasion of considerable inconvenience to both men and officers.

The latter especially were most uncomfortably crowded, the captain setting the example of self-sacrifice, by giving up his state-room for the benefit of Lieutenant Blake, Commander of the sunken Hatteras.
It may be supposed that, under these circumstances, the Alabama was not very anxious to increase the number of her involuntary passengers.

Still duty was duty, and when, on the day following the engagement, a sail was reported from aloft, chase was at once given, and expectation again on tiptoe at the thought of a prize.

No prize, however, was to be taken that day.