, until Captain Guise, who commanded the _Lautaro_, was severely
wounded, and his ship at once retired from action. Neither of the other
Chilian vessels ventured within range from first to last. The flag-ship
being thus left alone exposed to the whole fire of the enemy, Lord
Cochrane was ultimately obliged to relinquish the attack. He retired to an
island three miles distant from the port, and for five weeks blockaded
Callao.

"This is dull work, Mr. Embleton," the admiral said one day, as he paced
up and down the quarter-deck. "What can one do with four badly-equipped
ships, one of which has lost its commander, who though not friendly to me
was at least an officer of courage, the other two commanded by men who are
afraid to bring their ships within range of the enemy's guns, and all
badly manned, badly provisioned, and by no means in fighting trim. If the
Spaniards would but sail out to engage us, we might do something, but they
have dismantled their frigates, and nothing will tempt the gun-boats to
move out from the forts. The only consolation is that the spectacle of our
blockading the place successfully cannot but rouse the spirit of the
Chilians, and induce them, I hope, to make an effort to put a force on the
sea capable of completely crippling the Spaniards."

At the end of five weeks the little fleet proceeded to Huacho, a short
distance north of Callao. The bulk of its inhabitants were secretly in
sympathy with the Chilians, and the Spanish garrison evacuated the place
and fled almost immediately the ships opened fire. The order was given for
boats to be lowered, and Lord Cochrane himself landed to see that there
was no scramble for the property of the government. Of this a large
quantity was found in the stores, together with a considerable amount of
money, which was of even more importance to the Chilians, whose treasury
was empty, and who were crippled in all their operations by want of
specie. During April and May Lord Cochrane cruised up and down the
Peruvian coast. Several landings were effected, and valuable captures made
of money and stores.

The property of the Peruvians was always respected, and the admiral spared
no pains to convince the inhabitants that the Chilians were their friends
and were hostile only to the Spaniards their oppressors. Several ships
laden with stores for the Spanish troops also fell into their hands.
Towards the end of the cruise a sail was observed at some distance in the
of