ed to tow one of the brigs, while Jack was to tow the
other. All hands on board both vessels were hard at work till sunset.

The next morning, the wind coming down the harbour, they got under
weigh, and proceeded down the gulf. In a short time, the squadron got
abreast of the fort, the commandant of which was well aware that the
English had, in accordance with the wishes of his own government,
performed their duty in capturing the slavers, and Murray therefore
expected to pass without molestation. He saluted as usual, and was
standing on, when a gun was fired at the corvette.

"What are the fellows about!" he exclaimed.

"It may have been let off by mistake," observed Adair.

"That was not let off by mistake, though," exclaimed Murray, as a shot
from a second gun whistled close under the stern, followed immediately
by another, which, however, passed ahead.

"Beat to quarters," cried Murray, "the fellows mean mischief."

Scarcely had the first roll of the drum sounded than the eager crew
sprang to their guns.

Jack imitated his example; both vessels opened their broadsides, firing
shot and shell as fast as their guns could be brought to bear.

The fort, meantime, fired showers of grape, canister, and round shot.

"This is hotter work than we met with up the Saint Juan; I did not
expect such fun," exclaimed Desmond.

"We had only muskets, and we have now got big guns to pay back the
compliments we receive," observed Archy, who was standing near him.

"Yes, but the enemy have stone walls, instead of timber stockades to
protect them," said Desmond; "it's very good fun, though."

"I don't call that fun," cried Archy, as a round shot struck a seaman at
one of the guns near them on the breast, and laid him dead on the deck,
before he had time to utter a groan. A grape shot, the next moment, hit
another man on the shoulder, and he was carried below. Two others were
shortly afterwards wounded.

Fortunately the wind held, or the men-of-war might have suffered much
more than they did. The object of the Brazilians was probably to compel
them to abandon their prizes, which would have undoubtedly been
immediately taken possession of.

Murray signalled Higson to keep further off the fort, to escape the risk
of damage.

The English ships, having passed the front of the battery, had their
sterns exposed to a raking fire from the sea face of it, which they were
unable to return, in consequence of the vessels in tow