orcupine'
stick up her quills all in good time. You'll see."

I could not help telling the captain the opinion the crew formed of him,
which was a very just one. Neither he nor I had much doubt that the
ships in sight were British. We hoisted British colours, so did they;
and in a short time we were all paying compliments to each other, they
being his Majesty's ships Charon, Lowestoffe, and Pomona, under the
command of the Honourable Captain Luttrell. He confirmed the account we
had received of the attack of the Spaniards on the British territories,
and informed us also that he had been in quest of two Spanish galleons
which had taken shelter under the strongly-fortified town of San
Fernando D'Omoa. He had wished to attack the place, but, it being
remarkably strong, he had considered that, with the force under his
command, he could scarcely hope for success. Now, however, with the
reinforcements we brought him, he considered that he would have a fair
chance of taking it.

Having called a council-of-war, all the captains agreed that the exploit
might be accomplished. Accordingly, we made sail for the westward.
There was a general satisfaction throughout the fleet when it was known
that an attack on the fortress was to take place. As with light and
variable winds we moved slowly on to the westward, the ships' companies
were employed in making scaling-ladders, fascines, and all the other
requisites for a siege. Our whole force consisted of the following
ships and vessels:--

+==========+=====+====+
| |Guns.|Men.|
+----------+-----+----+
|Charon | 44| 300|
+----------+-----+----+
|Lowestoffe| 32| 220|
+----------+-----+----+
|Pomona | 28| 200|
+----------+-----+----+
|Porcupine | 16| 100|
+----------+-----+----+
|Racehorse | 8| 50|
+----------+-----+----+
|Peggy | 6| 15|
+==========+=====+====+

All the above together with 100 Indians and Volunteers, and 12 Loyal
Irish--no very mighty armament for the attack of so strong a place. But
British sailors hold to the belief that what men dare they can do; so we
went on, never doubting of success. We anchored to wood and water at
the Bay of Truxillo, and then sailed on, touching at various other
places till, on the evening of the 16th, we anchored in Porto Carvalho
Bay, not far from the place we had come to attack. Night had set in
before we approached the land, so that there was little fear that the
enemy would obtain n