ivering
it. The chief agreed to send us in a small gunboat, 'till we came within
sight of the _Antelope_; then the Compradore's boat was to bring the
ransom and receive us.

I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, that it was with
considerable difficulty I could scrawl about two or three lines to
inform Lieutenant Maughn of the arrangements I had made. We were all so
deeply affected by the gratifying tidings, that we seldom closed our
eyes, but continued watching day and night for the boat. On the 6th she
returned with Lieutenant Maughn's answer, saying he would respect any
single boat; but would not allow the fleet to approach him. The chief
then, according to his first proposal, ordered a gunboat to take us, and
with no small degree of pleasure we left the Ladrone fleet about four
o'clock in the morning.

At one P.M. saw the _Antelope_ under all sail, standing toward us. The
Ladrone boat immediately anchored, and dispatched the Compradore's boat
for the ransom, saying, that if she approached nearer, they would return
to the fleet; and they were just weighing when she shortened sail, and
anchored about two miles from us. The boat did not reach her 'till late
in the afternoon, owing to the tide's being strong against her. She
received the ransom and left the _Antelope_ just before dark. A
mandarine boat that had been lying concealed under the land, and
watching their maneuvers, gave chase to her, and was within a few
fathoms of taking her, when she saw a light, which the Ladrones
answered, and the Mandarine hauled off.

Our situation was now a most critical one; the ransom was in the hands
of the Ladrones, and the Compradore dare not return with us for fear of
a second attack from the mandarine boat. The Ladrones would not remain
'till morning, so we were obliged to return with them to the fleet.

In the morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the
following articles: two bales of superfine scarlet cloth; two chests of
opium; two casks of gunpowder; and a telescope; the rest in dollars. He
objected to the telescope not being new; and said he should detain one
of us 'till another was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it. The
Compradore however agreed with him for the hundred dollars.

Every thing being at length settled, the chief ordered two gunboats to
convey us near the _Antelope_; we saw her just before dusk, when the
Ladrone boats left us. We had the inexpressible pleasure of arri