We brought our prize safe into Malta, which we reached in five days.

In less than a week our men were drafted into different men-of-war on the station.
I was appointed a warrant officer in the 'Sheerwater,' forty-four guns; and as the admiral opened the despatch, the only words he spoke puzzled me for many a day after.
"'You have accomplished your orders too well,' said he; 'that privateer is but a poor compensation for the whole French navy.'" "Well," inquired Power, "and did you never hear the meaning of the words ?" "Yes," said he; "many years after I found out that our despatches were false ones, intended to have fallen into the hands of the French and mislead them as to Lord Nelson's fleet, which at that time was cruising to the southward to catch them.

This, of course, explained what fate was destined for us,--a French prison, if not death; and after all, either was fully good enough for the crew that sailed in the old 'Brian.'".