The captain took out his pocketbook, and made a rapid calculation.
"Then they are worth between thirty-two and thirty-three thousand pounds, Joe.
"Why, lad, she is worth forty thousand pounds, without the hides or the hull. That is something like a capture," and the two men shook hands, warmly.
"The best thing to do, Joe, will be to divide these boxes between the three ships; then, even if one of them gets picked up by the Spaniards or French, we shall still be in clover."
"I think that would be a good plan," Joe agreed.
"We will do it at once. There is nothing like making matters safe. Just get into the boat alongside, and row to the brig; and tell them to lower the jolly boat and send it alongside. We will get some of the boxes up, by the time you are back."
In an hour the silver was divided between the three ships; and the delight of the sailors was great, when they heard how valuable had been the capture.
"How do you divide?" Bob asked Captain Lockett, as they were watching the boxes lowered into the boat.
"The ship takes half," he said. "Of the other half I take twelve shares, Joe eight, the second mate six, the boatswain three, and the fifty hands one share each. So you may say there are eighty shares and, if the half of the prize is worth twenty thousand pounds, each man's share will be two hundred and fifty.
"It will be worth having, Bob; though it is a great shame you should not rate as an officer."