Almost three hours had passed before the Galleon was taken. Treasure was little save the purser’s money and some gold ornaments. The powder was transferred as was the balls that fit the cannon. The ship was scuttled and sank. Now for the two merchantman, Peter calculated that in three hours they were already 15 miles away and it would take another three to catch them, meaning about 1500 hours with luck. He signaled sloops to make haste after the one and he went after the other. The standard Merchantman only had four cannon, two to a side, easy pickings for the Privateers.<br/><br/>Two and a half hours later Peter sent a lookout up the mast to search for the ships. Fifteen minutes later he shouted down that the sloops had engaged one of the ships, but no sign of the other. Afew minutes later he cme sliding down the rope all excited. “Captain the other merchant has anchored along the coast of the virgin.” “She has struck her sails and anchored so as to blend in.” “She is bearing o30 relative sir.”<br/><br/>As they changed course, Peter mulled over in his mind, why did the Captain choose this tactic?  One idea was, if it was real close his crew could swim to safety. Another was, he could bring all four guns to the port side and deliver a better blow.  This was something to be concerned about and it played on his mind. The third idea was that it was a trap, because Peter had heard of the schoals around the Virgin but didn’t have a map showing  them<br/><br/>“Helmsman, come thirty degrees port.” Everybody looked at  the Captain but nobody challenged him. Once on their new course, he sent a lookout aloof telling to get him a bearing to the tip of the island.  Once he had it Peter plotted a course to pass just south of the tip. They passed south of the tip and once past and out of possible sight of the merchant man, he came full starboard till facing from whence they came.” He dropped the sails and deployed the sea anchors. The next move was the merchantmen and if Peter was right, he would try to get away under darkness. Peter darkened ship and got his lookouts ready. Twenty hours on the clock and a look out reported movement.