THE OUZEL GALLEY ORDERED ROUND TO MONTEGO BAY--FRESH GUNS AND STORES TAKEN ON BOARD--A CRIMP BRINGS OFF SOME MEN IN NO UNUSUAL CONDITION--TWO VOLUNTEERS--VISIT FROM GERALD--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--SUSPICIONS AS TO ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS--MONTEGO BAY REACHED--A DINNER ON SHORE-- WARNINGS--LAST SIGHT OF THE OUZEL GALLEY FROM THE SHORE--BELLEVUE AND ITS INHABITANTS--ARCHIE SANDYS--DESCRIBES A JUMBY DANCE--SIGNS OF A COMING STORM--A HURRICANE--ANXIETY REGARDING THE OUZEL GALLEY--EFFECTS OF THE HURRICANE. The _Ouzel Galley_ was soon unloaded. Some time, however, was spent in repairing the damages she had received from the pirate, after which Owen was preparing to take on board a fresh cargo, when he received orders to proceed round to Montego Bay, where a large amount of produce, which the firm had purchased from a neighbouring estate, was awaiting shipment. "You will run but little risk, I hope, from the enemy's cruisers, and against them we have at all events insured, though not to the full amount, for we know that we can trust to the sailing qualities of the _Ouzel Galley_, and to your courage, judgment, and seamanship," wrote Mr Ferris. "If a convoy can be procured, you will of course take advantage of it; but if not, so great is the importance of getting the produce home without delay, that we leave it to your discretion to sail alone, should you judge that to be most to our interest. You are also at liberty to increase your armament by two or four guns, if you can carry them, and not only to replace the men you lost in your action with the pirate, but to add ten or a dozen more hands if you can obtain them. You will thus, we hope, be able to beat off any of the enemy's smaller cruisers or such a piratical craft as attacked us coming out; though you will, of course, use all the means in your power to avoid a contest and to make the best of your way home." Owen was naturally flattered with the letter, though he considered that the dangers he would have to encounter were much greater than those he was likely to meet with in a run home under a sufficient convoy. Gerald, who had been to Kingston, was paying him a visit on board on his way down. "I wish that I could go with you," he exclaimed, "and so, I dare say, will our second lieutenant. It isn't far off, I fancy, from where Mr Ferris is staying. I'll tell Foley--though I don't think there's much chance of his getting leave, and we shall be sent to sea as soon as we are ready, for the admiral isn't the man to let the grass grow on the bottom of any of his ships." "I wish that you could come, for I shall find it rather solitary," said Owen. "However, I see no chance of that, and I will now go on shore to get the guns--I'll have the four of them--to order some of the stores I require, and to do what I can to pick up men."