The _Bonaventura_ having thus become ours, we made haste to bring to her such useful stores as the _San Felipe_ contained, and the chests holding the treasure. I went with Captain Q into the cabin, and observed with what pangs he saw his chests in the hands of our men. He stood on watch when they were set on a cradle for slinging on deck; and followed every movement with a jealous eye until the chests were bestowed in the cabin of the _Bonaventura_. They were three in number, two large and one small, and when the two former had been removed, Captain Q appeared content, and was for leaving the third behind. I remembered that I had never seen this one open, and knowing what delight he took in contemplating and fingering the contents of the others, I could not but suppose that the smallest chest held things of little worth. Seeing that the Captain appeared in a mind to leave it, I asked him whether that was his intent, and he replied that it held nought but old papers, accounts, and bills of lading, and such-like things, and told me very courteously that I might have it for my own. ’Twas not a gift I greatly valued, but I would not vex him by refusing it, and so I made one of the men convey it to the _Bonaventura_. While the mariners were busied about transferring the things from the one vessel to the other, Hilary took counsel with his friends as touching the disposal of the Spanish prisoners now huddled in the hold. I spoke for carrying them with us, and putting them ashore either on some island we should pass on our homeward voyage, or on the coast of Spain when we had crossed the ocean. But Tom Hawke cried out very stoutly against this. "Why should we burden ourselves with them?" he said. "The ship will sail the lighter without them; and bethink ye what a monstrous deal of food they will consume! Let us batten them down in the hold of the _San Felipe_ and so leave them." "As I live, a right good notion!" said Hilary. "Be sure they will be found when the other vessels come up, and ’twould please me mightily an I could see the meeting. ’Twill be a cause of delay also, for they will assuredly tell what has befallen them, and every minute thus filled will better our chances of escape." "But they will increase our enemies’ force, and, moreover, we shall lose as many minutes in carrying them from this vessel to the _San Felipe_," said I. "Which we shall gain by the lightening of our freight," replied Hilary. "And we will e’en set about it at once, while the men are still bringing the goods aboard." Whereupon the Spaniards were brought up in small parties and conveyed to the _San Felipe_. And then, all things being ready, the _Bonaventura_ cast off and made sail, beating up against the wind as she retraced the course we had followed before. The sun was rising as she came out into the open sea beyond the south-eastern corner of the island. ’Twas Hilary’s design to set a straight course for England.