ion, to
ascertain whether any ships were at anchor off the place. There were
two, certainly, one larger than the other. The wind was light, but we
at length got in close enough to see that the French flag flew at their
mastheads, as also over the fort, and that there were several smaller
vessels. I thought that there would be more fighting, but instead of
proceeding to that extremity, the commodore sent in a boat with a flag
of truce, pointing out the overpowering force he had under him, and
demanding the instant surrender of the ships and fort.

We anxiously watched for the return of the boat, for if the demand were
not acceded to we should have, it was understood, to go in and cut out
the ships with our boats. Many liked the thought of such an exploit, in
spite of its dangerous character. It was very possible that the French
captain might hope, with the support of the fort, to be able to beat off
the boats, and to hold out until the squadron should be driven off by a
storm. At last the boat was seen returning. The frigate was the one
which had escaped from us. Her captain wisely agreed to yield to the
fortune of war, and to give her up with all her prizes, and the fort
into the bargain.

"And what is the name of the other ship?" I asked.

"The _Barbara_ merchantman," answered the lieutenant. "She was on the
point of sailing with a French crew when we appeared, so that her owners
have had a narrow chance of losing their property."

This was, indeed, satisfactory news. I was, of course, very eager to go
on board and hear from Captain Hassall what he intended doing. The
account brought off as to the state of the English garrison was
melancholy. The fort was built in an especially unhealthy spot, with
marshy undrained land close round it. The consequence was, that of the
fifty men who had been sent there, when the French appeared not a dozen
were alive, and that sad remainder were scarcely able to lift their
muskets. They had therefore at once yielded to the enemy. Several
others had since died, but the sickly season being now over, it was
hoped that the remainder would live on till the next year, when in all
probability during the same season they would share the fate of their
comrades. I got a passage in one of the next boats which pulled in.
Captain Hassall had been allowed by the French to return to his ship,
and he was taking a turn on deck when I went alongside. He looked at me
curiously two or