urn
on their pursuer, but kept steadily on, while the merchant ships and
transports scattered right and left in order to escape from the reach of
his guns. Those that did so were all picked up by the other Brazilian
ships, while Lord Cochrane pursued the main body. Five days after they had
sailed, he sent off the other vessels with their prizes to Pernambuco, the
nearest port, with a despatch to the minister of marine, informing him
that half the enemy's army, their colours, cannon, ammunition, stores, and
baggage had already been taken. He stated that he should continue the
pursuit, directing his attention at present to the transports, in order
that he might if possible capture the whole of the troops and so lessen
the risk of any future operations by the Portuguese against Brazil. After
effecting this he should, he said, direct his operations against their
war-ships.

For another week he followed the flying fleet. Each night he swept down
among them, capturing many vessels and causing the utmost confusion and
alarm among the rest. He chased them past the equator and more than
half-way to Cape Verde, and then left them to make their way back to
Portugal, and report that a single vessel had driven thirteen ships of war
home, accompanied by only thirteen of the seventy vessels that had started
under their protection. The pursuit would not have terminated even then,
but would have been pressed until the rest of the convoy fell into his
hands, but several of the transports had made their escape during the
night attacks, and Lord Cochrane was anxious to prevent them from carrying
their troops safely into Maranham. Upon abandoning the pursuit, therefore,
he sailed for that port, and entered the river with Portuguese colours
flying.

The authorities at once sent off an officer to congratulate their supposed
friend on his safe arrival, and to express their satisfaction at this
reinforcement to their strength. On arriving on board, the officer found
that he had fallen into a trap. Lord Cochrane announced to him that the
flag-ship would be followed by a numerous fleet with a military force, and
that resistance would therefore bring about the destruction of the place
and the capture of the fleet and garrison, and he then sent him on shore
with letters to the governor to the same effect.

"You will already have learned," he said, "of the flight of the naval and
military forces from Bahia. I have now to inform you of the capture