night, when the weather
moderated, and at daybreak we found out that we had not gained much
offing, in consequence of the current; but what was more important,
the man who went to the look-out at the masthead, hailed the deck,
saying there were two sail in the offing. The hands were turned up to
make sail in chase, but we found that they were resolutely bearing
down upon us; and as we neared each other fast, we soon made them out
to be vessels of force. One we knew well--she was the Esperance, a
French schooner-privateer of sixteen guns, and one hundred and
twenty-men; the other proved to be a Spanish schooner-privateer,
cruising in company with her, of eighteen guns, and full manned.

Now our original complement of men had been something more than one
hundred, but by deaths, severe wounds in action, and manning our
prizes, our actual number on board was reduced to fifty-five effective
men. Finding the force so very superior, we made every attempt with
sails and sweeps to escape, but the land to leeward of us, and their
position to windward, rendered it impossible. Making, therefore, a
virtue of necessity, we put a good face upon it, and prepared to
combat against such desperate odds.

Captain Weatherall, who was the life and soul of his crew, was not
found wanting on such an emergency. With the greatest coolness and
intrepidity, he gave orders to take in all the small sails, and
awaited the coming down of the enemy. When every thing was ready for
the unequal conflict, he ordered all hands aft, and endeavoured to
inspire us with the same ardour which animated himself. He reminded us
that we had often fought and triumphed over vessels of much greater
force than our own; that we had already beaten off the French
privateer on a former occasion; that the Spaniard was not worth
talking about except to swell the merits of the double victory, and
that if once we came hand to hand our cutlasses would soon prove our
superiority. He reminded us that our only safety depended upon our own
manhood; for we had done such mischief on the coast, and our recent
descent upon the plantation was considered in such a light, that we
must not expect to receive quarter if we were overcome. Exhorting us
to behave well, and to fight stoutly, he promised us the victory. The
men had such confidence in the captain that we returned him three
cheers, when, dismissing us to our quarters, he ordered St. George's
ensign to be hoisted at the main-masth