"At all events, I'm delighted to see you, boy: now sit down and tell me your story in a few words; we will have it in detail by-and-bye." "If you please, sir," said Jack, "we captured that ship with the cutter the night after we went away--I'm not a first-rate navigator, and I was blown to the Zaffarine Islands, where I remained two months for want of hands: as soon as I procured them I made sail again--I have lost three men by sharks, and I have two wounded in to-day's fight--the ship mounts twelve guns, is half laden with lead and cotton prints, has fourteen thousand dollars in the cabin, and three shot-holes right through her--and the sooner you send some people on board of her the better." This was not very intelligible, but that there were fourteen thousand dollars and that she required hands sent on board, was very satisfactorily explained.

Captain Wilson rang the bell, sent for Mr Asper, who started back at the sight of our hero--desired him to order Mr Jolliffe to go on board with one of the cutters, send the wounded men on board, and take charge of the vessel, and then told Jack to accompany Mr Jolliffe, and to give him every information: telling him that he would hear his story to-morrow, when they were not so very busy..