stroying all of the
oil and other provisions which they could not carry away.

This done, they returned to the port by a new route over the mountains,
and in doing so escaped an ambuscade which would inevitably have
destroyed them all. As it was, they reached the shore only to find more
than three hundred cavalrymen charging upon them from the north. As
quickly as possible the buccaneers threw themselves into a posture of
defense and charged to meet the advancing horsemen. The horsemen
retreated as the pirates advanced, with the intention of leading the
latter away from the village and the rocks near the port. Detecting the
stratagem, the pirates returned to the port, and a battle at long range
commenced, which lasted the entire day. Meanwhile the Spaniards had been
receiving continuous reinforcements, and appeared in numbers on the
hills on all sides, so that the pirates, fearing they would be
overpowered by force of numbers, resolved that night to escape and sail
away from the coast which had brought them so much trouble.
Nevertheless, they had gathered a great quantity of provisions, which
were very acceptable under the circumstances.

[Illustration: A BATTLE AT LONG RANGE COMMENCED]

Early in December the buccaneers had another series of exciting
experiences at the town of La Serena. Here a force was landed and sent
toward the city, but it quickly discovered that the inhabitants had been
warned of the approach of the pirates and were rallying to defend
themselves, led by a troop of a hundred Spanish horse. The advance guard
of the buccaneers, however, was able to rout the Spaniards and drive
them from the town. At a short distance away, however, the cavalry
rallied, and appeared ready to offer battle in a more favorable place,
but the pirates brought up their reinforcements, and when they offered
to attack the Spaniards, the latter fled again. A third time they formed
and a third time retreated. This method of fighting they continued until
the English were drawn far away from the town, which was evidently the
plan of the Spaniards, although they lost three of their officers and
several horses. The buccaneers, abandoning the chase, crossed the green
fields and waded the irrigating streams which enclosed them, finding
here and there a house, but all destitute of both inhabitants and
provisions. The Spaniards had taken good care that little should be left
for the pirates. Near the town they found fine fruit orchards