There were few places at that time more disorganised and disturbed than Carthagena. The consul himself and his family, indeed, were frightened, and gladly accepted Murray's invitation to take up their quarters on board the _Supplejack_, till matters were in a more settled state on shore. The consul's boat was in readiness, and the whole party were soon assembled on the deck of the brig. Their departure showed the government that the commander intended to carry out his threat of sending for a fleet to bombard their town should his demands not be complied with. Another messenger was therefore despatched to hasten the departure of the captured merchantmen, which, the wind being favourable, within the time allowed were seen entering the harbour. As his duty would not allow Murray to leave Carthagena until he had received instructions from the admiral, he determined forthwith to send the _Sarah Jane_ with an account of the event which had occurred, and to ask for instructions. As soon as she came to an anchor, Higson, Tom, and Archy, with a boat's crew were sent on board. Great was the midshipmen's delight when they stepped on deck to see "Master Spider" on the top of the caboose, apparently on excellent terms with his new associates; he knew his old friends, however, at once, and came hopping down to greet them with every demonstration of pleasure. The brig was in a terribly dirty condition, and the furniture of the cabin was considerably damaged, while the greater part of her cargo and every article of value had been carried off. The native crew was sent on shore, and Murray picked out the most respectable of her former ship's company, with two or three of the best men out of the sloop to man her, promising them a handsome reward if they behaved well. Though he could ill spare Higson, there was no one else to whom he could entrust the command of her. He felt bound also to send the three midshipmen back to their ships, and the confidence he had in Needham made him resolve to send him, and in addition he picked out four good men from the _Supplejack_. "I hope we have made up a tolerable ship's company for you, Higson," he said; "keep a watchful eye over them, and do not trust them too much; they have ample inducement to behave well, but they have been so long, I suspect, engaged in lawless pursuits, that it is impossible to say what tricks they may take it into their heads to play." Murray was constantly on board the _Sarah Jane_, endeavouring to restore her cabin to its former state of comfort. He felt that Stella could not stay on board the _Supplejack_ with him, and painful as it was to part with her, his only course was to send her at once to her friends in Jamaica.