oard a fast sailing-ship
then in port. To prevent this the commodore resolved at once to attack
the place, which was of no strength, and contained, it was supposed, but
a small garrison. The ships standing in during the night, four boats
were dispatched, carrying fifty-eight men, under the command of
Lieutenant Brett. The Spanish pilots taken in the prizes were warned
that if they proved treacherous they would be shot, and the rest of the
prisoners carried off to England.

Lieutenant Brett reached the mouth of the bay without being discovered,
but no sooner did he enter it than some of the people on board a vessel
riding at anchor perceived them, and instantly put off in their boat,
rowing towards the fort, shouting out, "The English! the English dogs!"
by which the whole fort was alarmed.

Several lights being seen, Lieutenant Brett hurried forward his men, to
give the enemy as little time as possible to prepare for their defence.
Before a boat could reach the shore, a shot was fired from the fort,
passing very near one of them. This made their crews redouble their
efforts, and, before another gun was fired, leaping on shore, they were
conducted by a Spanish pilot through a narrow street into a large
square. As they marched along with tolerable regularity, the shouts and
cheers of the sailors, so long confined on shipboard, who now, for the
first time, found themselves in an enemy's country, with the prospect of
immense pillage, joined with the noise of their drums, made the
Spaniards suppose that they were a numerous party. The invaders were
received by a volley from the merchants holding the treasure, who had
arranged themselves in a gallery running round the custom-house. One of
the seamen was killed and two wounded, but the house being surrounded,
and the fire being briskly returned, the defenders disappeared, and the
English obtained quiet possession.

Lieutenant Brett now divided his men into two parties, ordering one to
surround the Governor's house, to secure him if possible, while he
himself, with the other party, marched to the fort. The latter was at
once entered, the garrison having escaped over the walls. The Governor
also had got away, habited in but scanty garments, leaving a young wife
much in the same condition, but who was afterwards carried off by two
sentinels. The escape of the Governor greatly vexed Lieutenant Brett,
as he had hoped by capturing him to treat for the ransom of the place