e crew had landed and taken her gun--a six-pounder--with them,
which did the mischief to our boats. The gun they threw into deep water,
after having spiked it. She was a small schooner, about seventy-five tons.
I kept her as a tender, put an eighteen-pound carronade, a master's mate,
and twenty men on board her, and a few days afterwards she captured a very
pretty schooner coming round Cape Mayzi.

My time being expired, I bore up for Jamaica with my two prizes, and
arrived at Port Royal on the second day. My health, which had been
delicate since leaving Africa, began to decline, and I was tormented with
a rash, particularly in my face, which affected my eyesight. I had, at
different periods, been twelve years on the West India station, and I
thought I had had a sufficient share of a torrid zone. The Admiral,
hearing of my indisposition, invited me for change of air to the Pen. This
kindness, however, did but little good to my health. One morning, as I was
strolling in the Park, calling the crown bird I had given to the Admiral,
and feeding him and some Curacoa birds which were his companions, I was
accosted by the captain of a sloop of war who was ordered to take a convoy
of mahogany ships from Honduras to England, and in the course of
conversation he mentioned that he understood I intended to give up my ship
and invalid. "Whoever informed you that I intended to invalid," I replied,
"must have laboured under a gross mistake. I would rather go to 'Kingdom
come' quietly than run from my post." "Well," said he, "be it so, but if
the Admiral were to consent to your exchanging with me, as I am almost a
Johnny Newcome in this part of the world, and you are an old standard,
would this accord with your way of thinking?" "As I am so unwell,"
returned I, "it certainly is a great temptation, but we must both have the
Admiral's opinion and consent, and I will give you an answer in two days,
provided I do not get better, and Fishly, the builder, shall give me his
opinion respecting your sloop, whether Government, on my arrival in
England, will consider her an effective ship."

He met me at the builder's at Port Royal the following day, when the
latter assured me the ship's repairs would be comparatively trifling, and
that he was certain, as those class of vessels were much wanted in the
Channel, she would be kept in commission. Three days afterwards we
effected the exchange, and I sailed to cruise again off Cuba for six
weeks. Work