The next morning the work of shipping the contents of the storehouses commenced, but so large was the quantity of goods stored up that it took six days of hard work before all was safely on board.
The sailors, however, did not grudge the trouble, for they knew that every box and bale meant so much prize-money.
"I hope we shall meet nothing we ought to chase on our way to Port Royal," Captain Wilson said, looking with some disgust at the two vessels.

"It has brought the Alert nearly two feet lower in the water; while as to the Seagull she is laden down like a collier." "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.