as very tantalizing to the men, who
hung over the bulwarks, looking at the fair objects of their
adoration. But one man only showed signs of rebellion against the
captain's authority; and Porter, calling him out before the crew,
rebuked him, and sent him ashore in a native canoe: while the rest of
the jackies sprang into the rigging, set the canvas, and the ship soon
left the island, with its sorrowing nymphs, far in her wake.

The two vessels turned their heads toward Valparaiso, and made the
port after an uneventful voyage of fifty-six days. The frigate entered
the harbor at once, and cast anchor; while the "Essex Junior" was
ordered to cruise about outside, keeping a close watch for the enemy's
ships. The friendship of the people of the town seemed as great as
during the first visit of the frigate to the port; and a series of
entertainments was begun, that culminated in a grand ball upon the
"Essex" on the night of the 7th of February, 1814. For that one night
the officers of the "Essex Junior" were absolved from their weary duty
of patrolling the sea at the mouth of the harbor. The vessel was
anchored at a point that commanded a view of the ocean; and her
officers, arrayed in the splendor of full dress, betook themselves on
board of the frigate. At midnight, after an evening of dancing and
gayety, Lieut. Downes left the "Essex," and returned to his vessel,
which immediately weighed anchor and put to sea. The festivities on
the frigate continued a little time longer; and then, the last ladies
having been handed down the gangway, and pulled ashore, the work of
clearing away the decorations began. While the ship's decks were still
strewn with flags and flowers, while the awnings still stretched from
stem to stern, and the hundreds of gay lanterns still hung in the
rigging, the "Essex Junior" was seen coming into the harbor with a
signal flying. The signal quartermaster rushed for his book, and soon
announced that the flags read, "Two enemy's ships in sight." At this
moment more than half the crew of the "Essex" were on shore; but a
signal set at the ship's side recalled the men, and in an hour and a
half the ship was ready for action; while the "Essex Junior" cast
anchor in a supporting position.

The two strange vessels were the "Cherub" and the "Phoebe," British
men-of-war. They rounded into the harbor about eight A.M., and bore
down towards the American ships. The "Phoebe," the larger of the two
Englishmen, drew c