They would no longer have to plead for freight from port to port as though begging alms.

Now they were on the point of achieving importance, and were going to find themselves solicited by consignors and disdainful merchants.

The _Mare Nostrum_ was going to be worth its weight in gold.
Such predictions, though Ferragut refused to accept them, began to be fulfilled in a very short time.

Ships on the ocean routes suddenly became very scarce.

Some of them were taking refuge in the nearest neutral ports, fearing the enemy's cruisers.