His brother officers, as usual, laughed at Hardman’s prognostications. At length the frigate got the chase directly under her guns, when, instead of making the slightest attempt to escape, she hauled down her flag, and heaving-to, waited to be taken possession of. This was done as soon as a boat could be lowered from the frigate; Morton went in her, and Evans the mate, who spoke Spanish, accompanied him. He stepped on board the prize. She was a handsome ship, and from her very appearance Morton hoped that she would have a rich cargo. The captain received his captors very politely, and at once produced his invoice.
“That is what you want, gentlemen,” he observed, with a deep sigh; “your gain is my loss, I am a ruined man.”
“There are all sorts of valuable things here, sir,” observed Morton’s subordinate. “I only hope they are not all shams.”
“We’ll go below and examine,” was the wise reply.
The ship was undoubtedly laden with all sorts of West India produce. Then some chests were come to; they were full of bars of silver.
“Pretty pickings, these,” observed Evans.
Some smaller boxes were next examined.
“As I am a gentleman and a Welshman, if I ever cast my eyes on diamonds before, these are diamonds!” he exclaimed, holding up a rough-looking but shining stone between his fingers. They might have been pieces of glass for what Morton could tell.
“These little boxes are worth some thousands, Morton, I can tell you,” exclaimed Hardman, half beside himself with delight. “A magnificent haul!” Suddenly he recollected himself,—“That is to say, if they ever reach England in safety. But, you know, there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.”
Morton was too busy to laugh just then. He had discovered some larger chests, containing some large gold candlesticks, which the captain informed them, were to ornament the church of our Lady of the Conception, in Madrid. There were just three of them, enormous and massive articles, not less than five feet high, besides, a quantity of rich plate of gold and silver. Morton sent back Evans to make a report to the captain. Lord Claymore heard the account with unrestrained delight.