She carried only twenty hands and four small guns, and was laden with hardware.
The privateer's crew at once set to work upon her.

At first Ralph could not understand what they were about, but he was not long in discovering.

The wedges round the mainmast were knocked out, the topmast lowered to the deck, the shrouds and stays slacked off, and then the mast was lifted and carried on board the brig.

As soon as this was done, the second mate of the brig with eight sailors went on board as a prize crew.

Everything was made taut and trim for them by the brig's crew.