When the hatches were taken off on board of the privateer, the prisoners, as they came up, were handed into the boats. Jerry stood at the hatchway, with his cutlass in his hand, making his sarcastic remarks upon them as they appeared. A short interval had elapsed, after it was supposed that everybody had come from below, when a tall, thin personage, in the dress of a landsman, crawled up the hatchway. "Halloo!" cried Jerry; "Mr Longtogs, who have we here? Why, he must be the _padre_. I say, mounseer, _je_ very much suspect, _que vous etes_ what they call a Father Confessor, _n'est-ce pas_? Devilish good idea. A privateer with a parson! What's your pay, mounseer?--a tenth, of course. Little enough too for looking after the souls of such a set of damned rascals. Well mounseer, _vous etes prisonnier_, without benefit of clergy; so hop into that boat. Why, confound it, here's another!" continued Jerry, as a second made his appearance. "He's the clerk, of course, as he follows the parson. Come, Mont' Arrivo Jack! What a cock-eye the rascal has!" During this elegant harangue, which was certainly meant for his own amusement more than for their edification, as Jerry had no idea but that they were belonging to the privateer, and of course could not comprehend him, both the parties looked at him, and at each other, with astonishment, until the first who had appeared addressed the latter with, "I say, Paul, did you ever see such a thing before? Damn it, why he's like a sixpenny fife,--more noise than substance." Jerry at once perceived his mistake, and recollected that the master of the vessel which they had boarded had mentioned that two English merchants had been taken out of her by the privateer, with the hopes of ransom; but, nettled with the remark which had been made, he retorted with-- "Well, I'd recommend you not to attempt to play upon me, that's all." "No, I don't mean, for I should only make you squeak." "You are the two gentlemen who were detained by the privateer, I presume," said Pearce, the master, who had come on board to superintend the necessary arrangements previous to her being sent in. "We are, sir, and must introduce ourselves. My name is Mr Peter Capon--that of my friend, designated by that young gentleman as Cock-eye, is Mr Paul Contract. Will you oblige us with a boat to go on board of the frigate, that we may speak to the captain?" "Most certainly. Jump into the first cutter there. I am sorry you have been so unpleasantly situated, gentlemen. Why did not you come on deck before?" Peter did not state the real ground, which was to secure their property, which was below, from being plundered by the privateer's crew; but, wishing to pay off Jerry for his impertinence, replied--