isted his flag in the former, which earned
twenty-six guns and one hundred and twenty men. The other was commanded
by Captain Stradling, who acted throughout very independently of his
superior. They sailed from the Downs in April, 1703, but were kept some
time at Kinsale, into which port they had put. It was not until
September that they finally got to sea. Their first object was to
capture the flotilla which sailed from Buenos Ayres, or, should they
fail in so doing, to go round Cape Horn and wait for the treasure-ships
from Baldivia, and to seize the famed Manilla galleon.

The ill-disciplined crew soon quarrelled among themselves, but Dampier
managed to keep them in subjection, until, rounding Cape Horn, they
reached Juan Fernandez. Here they encountered a French cruiser, which
they attacked; but after a seven hours' fight she got away, both parties
having suffered considerable loss. They afterwards failed to reach the
latitude intended before the treasure-ships had sailed from Baldivia.

Their next enterprise, which was to surprise the fleet in the Bay of
Santa Maria, also failed, although Dampier captured a few small vessels
sailing thence. At Nocoya John Clipperton, Dampier's chief mate, ran
off with the tender, carrying away his captain's commission, as well as
most of the ammunition and stores.

The _Saint George_ now sailed for the northward, and, to the great joy
of the crew, espied the Manilla galleon. She was attacked, but the guns
of the _Saint George_, carrying only five-pound shot, could do nothing
against the twenty-four-pounders of the galleon, and, much shattered,
she was compelled to haul off. The crew, now more than ever
discontented at this misfortune, rose in mutiny; and Funnell, who was
Dampier's steward, putting himself at their head, was allowed to take
one of the prizes,--a brigantine of seventy guns and thirty-four men,--
with a portion of the stores, guns, and ammunition, to sail for India.

Dampier had now but twenty-five men left, but, notwithstanding this,
after refitting his vessel, he attacked and plundered the town of Puna.
After this it was found that the _Saint George_ was so unsound and
rotten as to be unfit to keep at sea. He accordingly shipped her guns,
ammunition, and stores into a brigantine which he had taken, and
abandoned her. In his new vessel he sailed for the Indian Archipelago,
where, not having his commission to show, he was seized by the Dutch and
thrown i