I did not fully understand all Master Hackett said; but no particular harm was done because of my ignorance, since it matters little whether a boy aboard ship knows the whys and wherefores of everything.
However, there must have been good reasoning in the old man's words, since Captain Porter did exactly that which Master Hackett would have advised.
When prize crews were on board all our captured ships we were so short of hands that Lieutenant Gamble of the marines was given charge of the Greenwich, because we had no naval officer to put in command, and the entire fleet was gotten under way without unnecessary delay.
None of us on the gun-deck knew for what port we were bound, until the 19th of June, when we ran into the harbor of Tumbez, and came to anchor.
Why it was, none of our old sea lawyers could determine satisfactorily; but not one of the crew was given shore liberty. There was no unusual amount of work to be done on the ships, yet we were kept aboard as close as if there was danger some of us might desert.
The captain went on shore every day to bargain for provisions to be paid for with the money we captured from the Nocton, and boatloads of stores were put aboard this ship or that; therefore it was certain the inhabitants were friendly, or would be so long as our cash lasted.
There was no little amount of grumbling because we were kept so snug; but as a matter of course none of the hard words were spoken where they might be overheard by the officers, therefore nothing came of it.
Five days after we let go our ground tackle three sail were seen standing into the bay, and we were summoned to get the frigate under way, but the order was countermanded when those on the foremost ship lowered a boat as if to come ashore.
Captain Porter waited to learn who the visitors were, and soon we had the great satisfaction of seeing Lieutenant Downes in the stern-sheets of the boat, although it puzzled us not a little as to why he had returned thus soon.
Of course the lieutenant came on board the Essex, as did those who had manned his boat, and we of the gun-deck heard the whole story of the Georgiana's adventures while Mr. Downes was having his confab in the cabin.