een that the bulky old galleon would not keep way with the
men-of-war, so the Lowestoffe took us in tow, not much to the
satisfaction of those on board. Thick squally weather with rain came
on, and away we went plunging after her. For two days this continued,
and during the time I could scarcely ever leave the deck. At last I
went below on the night of the 10th, but hardly had I turned in and got
my eyes well closed when I was aroused up again by a terrific uproar,
and, rushing on deck and hurrying for'ard, I found that the Lowestoffe
was taken aback and was making a stern-board right down upon us.
Fortunately an axe was at hand. With a couple of strokes I cut the
hawser, and, putting up the helm, we were just able to run to leeward
out of her way. Soon after this the commodore made the signal to tack,
and the wind then shifting and a heavy gale coming on, I lost sight of
the squadron. Directly after this I made out the land on the lee bow
bearing east-south-east, three or four miles off. Whether I could
weather it was the question; but I made all the sail I could venture to
carry. I stood as close-hauled as I could, watching with no little
anxiety the unwelcome coast. The vessel looked up to the gale in
gallant style, and at length I was able to bring-to under my foresail.

Thus I remained all night. At six in the morning made sail under the
courses to the north-east, and at eight wore and saw the land bearing
south by south, distant five or six leagues. At noon was again obliged
to bring-to under the foresail, it blowing hard with a thick fog and
squalls.

On the 11th, the wind continuing to blow as hard as before, I saw the
island of Rattan. At 5 p.m. I fired six guns as signals for a pilot,
but night coming on with the accustomed bad weather, I wore and stood
out to sea. The next morning I bore away for Truxillo, on the Spanish
main. At 10 a.m., being close in-shore, the wind shifted, and blew a
heavy gale with very thick weather, which obliged me to stand to the
eastward. At noon, though we lost sight of the land, I found that we
were in very shoal water, and as may be supposed I became very anxious
when I found that there was no one on board who had ever been there
before, or was at all acquainted with the coast. All we knew was that
it was considered a very dangerous and difficult one. Since we left
Omoa, from not having even seen the sun, I had been unable to take an
observation, nor had I any