CHAPTER XVI. 

A VISIT HOME. 

The new purchase, which was named the _Suzanne_, was towed alongside the _Tigress_, and the crew began at once to get up the cargo and transfer it to her hold. More method was observed in restowing the cargo than had before been possible. The dried fruit, as the heaviest of the goods, was placed in the middle of the brig; the European goods, whose brands and packing enabled them to be easily distinguished from the rest, were placed forward; and the Eastern bales packed aft. This was done under the direction of the petty officers. 

During the four days that it took to complete the work, Edgar boarded several of the Italian craft, and succeeded in inducing ten active young sailors to join him, by the offer of a rate of pay several times higher than that they earned in their native craft, and of a free passage back on the first opportunity. Condor was appointed to the command of the _Tigress_, as two supernumerary lieutenants and four midshipmen had been sent out from home to the _Tigre_, and two midshipmen received acting orders as his lieutenants. There was much satisfaction among the junior officers of the _Tigre_ when they heard from Wilkinson the nature of the spoil he had gathered, and all sorts of guesses were hazarded as to its value. 

"I cannot help you there in the least," he said. "I know that Turkish and Eastern carpets fetch a big price at home; and of course silk, and gold and silver embroideries, are valuable; but, as I only know the contents of about a hundred bales, I have no more idea of what the total is likely to come to than you have." 
why?
unknown