they were those of the _Centurion_, which had
probably foundered, and all his hopes of harassing the enemy and
performing the duties imposed on him vanished. After a time, however,
he discovered that they were Indian proas. Not to alarm the Indians, he
ordered his people to keep out of sight. They came to within a quarter
of a mile of the shore, where they remained for two hours, and then
again stood to the northward.

The bark had been hauled up, sawn in two, and considerable progress made
in the work, when, on the 11th of October, one of the _Gloucester's_
men, being on a hill in the middle of the island, was seen rushing down
at full speed, crying out, "The ship, the ship!"

On this Mr Gordon, a lieutenant of marines, hurried to the commodore,
who, at the news, threw down his axe, with which he was at work, and in
his joy broke through, for the first time, the calm reserved manner he
had hitherto maintained. All hurried down to the beach, and before the
evening the _Centurion_ was visible to all. A boat was immediately
dispatched, with eighteen men, carrying fresh meat and fresh vegetables,
for the refreshment of her crew. The next afternoon she came to an
anchor in the road. When driven out to sea, those on board had fired
guns, but owing to the wind and rain, they had not been heard. After
great exertions the anchor was hove up, and the ship continued driving,
and, as she was short-handed, it was a long time before sail could be
made on her. For many days she had been beating up to windward, until
she had got back as described.

The Commodore now lived on board. The same accident again occurred, and
the ship was driven out to sea, leaving seventy of her men on shore.
After five days, however, she got back again, and having completed her
water, sailed on 21st of October for Macao.

The _Centurion_ was for some time beating along the coast of China,
among countless fishing-boats, until she came to an anchor off Macao on
the 12th of November. She remained at this port for five months, until
the health of her crew had been re-established.

Captain Anson here had the satisfaction of learning that the _Severn_
and _Pearl_, the two ships which had separated from the squadron, had
arrived safely at Rio Janeiro. Of the sad fate of the _Wager_, and the
loss of the larger number of her officers and crew, he did not receive
intelligence till his return home. He was annoyed by the extortionate
demands made by