nt time. We have, however,
decided upon raising you at once to the rank of lieutenant. Lord Cochrane
told me last night that such promotion, before you had served your full
time, was quite contrary to the rules of the service; but we considered
this an altogether exceptional case, and that you have amply proved
yourself to be fully capable of carrying out the duties of any rank to
which you may attain."

Stephen in a few words thanked the president and the council very
heartily, and then retired with the admiral.

"That is a nice little nest-egg for you, Stephen," the latter said. "I
consider that it ought to have been fifty thousand, but their necessities
are so great that they cannot afford to be generous."

"I consider that it is immense, sir," Stephen replied, "and had never any
thought of a reward for doing my duty."

"You will not want the money out here, lad," the admiral went on; "at any
rate, your share of the ship's prize-money will be ample for anything that
you may require. If you like, therefore, I will hand over your box along
with my own share of the prize-money to the firm here who act as my
bankers, and they will give you an order on their bankers in London, which
you can send to your father to draw and invest in your name or otherwise,
as you may prefer."

"Thank you very much, sir. You will, I hope, be kind enough to let me
continue to perform the duties of your flag-midshipman."

"You will become my flag-lieutenant, Stephen. The post is vacant, for Don
Valdes was yesterday appointed to the command of the _Independencia_, an
American-built corvette of twenty-eight guns that has been purchased and
fitted out."

On the 12th of September, 1819, the fleet set sail from Valparaiso. It
consisted of the _O'Higgins_, _San Martin_, _Lautaro_, _Independencia_,
_Galvarino_, _Araucano_, and _Puyrredon_, mounting in all two hundred and
twenty guns. There were also two old merchant ships to be used as
fire-vessels. On the 29th they entered the Callao roads. The next day Lord
Cochrane sent in a boat with a flag of truce, and challenged the Viceroy
to come out for a fair fight. The challenge was rejected, although the
Spanish fleet was nearly twice as strong as that of Chili.

On the night of the 2nd an attack was made, but failed, owing to the
rockets, from which much had been hoped, turning out useless. They had
been manufactured in Chili by Spanish prisoners, and had been so badly
constructed that they in