ear, sounded hollow and unearthly
from the reverberations of the overhanging precipices.

But quickly the scene would change; the jutting promontories and
overtopping walls would recede, and a fairy spot, encircled by
forest-land, would open upon us, studded with green islands, glorious in
all the beauties of an eternal spring, and crowded and crowned with
flowers of every hue, and of a brilliancy the most intense. We
proceeded in this delightful manner for more than twelve miles, yet no
one had appeared, in the least to notice our approach. Had the most
trivial attempt at defence been made, we could not have proceeded a
quarter of the distance; for I verily believe that we passed by points
so overhanging, that a couple of pounds of gunpowder, properly applied,
and fired at the right moment, would have tumbled fragments of solid
rock upon us, that would have crushed us to the bottom in an instant, to
mention nothing of the several protruding corners of this singular pass,
on which two or three guns could have raked an approaching vessel for
half an hour with impunity, as I have before stated that it would be
impossible in those straitened passages to have turned a broadside to
bear on any impediment. On we came, and at last a noble bay, or rather
salt-water lake, opened upon us, with two wide rivers delivering their
waters into the bottom of it. On our right lay the town of Aniana, with
a fort upon a green mount overlooking the houses, and rising much higher
than our floating pennant.

Our unexpected _entree_, like all other mistimed visits, caused the
visited a terrible degree of confusion. Twelve or thirteen beautiful
schooners had their sweeps out, and all their sails set immediately. We
having anchored opposite the town about noon, the breeze fell away into
almost a perfect calm, and off they went, making the best of their way
up the rivers. There were several other craft lying off the town, into
which the inhabitants were crowding, with all their effects of any
value, no doubt intending to go a little way up into the country also,
to avoid the inconvenience of inopportune calls. The signal was made
for our little squadron to get out their boats, chase, and capture.

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

TREATS OF KIND INTENTIONS FRUSTRATED--A VISITING PARTY PREVENTED BY ONE
BALL TOO MANY HAVING BEEN GIVEN--AND READY-MADE DOMESTIC HAPPINESS FOR
STRANGERS.

We first of all brought out the heavily laden craft that we