reat deal of caution. If we did not like her
looks, she evidently did not like ours. I knew that it would be best to
show I was ready for her, so as soon as she was within range of my guns
I hoisted my colours and fired a shot ahead of her. The next was a
moment of suspense, and I believe my people were not a little
disappointed when she hoisted an English ensign and fired a gun to
leeward. Having sailed close past us and hailed, she brought up at a
short distance from me. She then lowered a boat, and Lieutenant
Butcher, whom I had before met, came on board, and informed me that the
commodore had hired the brig and sent him in charge of her to look-out
for the Saint Domingo, which he had heard had been lost on the
Solomadinas, the most dangerous rocks on the coast.

"A ship we spoke informed us that you had been seen to go on shore, and
we hoped that though the galleon might be lost, we might save some of
your lives," he added; "however, I am heartily glad to find you all
alive and the old craft afloat."

"Not more glad than I am, that we have escaped all the dangers we have
encountered," I replied, and I told him of all the narrow escapes we had
had.

He then informed me that the Charon and Lowestoffe had several times
nearly been lost, and were now at Port Royal Harbour, in the Island of
Rattan.

To that place I found that I was at once to proceed. I will not
describe all the incidents which occurred before I got there. I must
try and hurry on with my adventures, or I shall never bring them to an
end.

By the 19th I got off the harbour, and, making a signal for assistance,
some boats came out to help tow me in, and by six o'clock I was safely
moored under the guns of the squadron. The commodore was delighted to
see me. I did not flatter myself so much because of my own merits, as
on account of the richly-freighted old galleon. However, I was not
addicted to trouble myself as to the cause of any attention I might
receive, or any compliments which might be paid me; but I always
received them with a good grace, as if they were invariably due to my
own especial merits. The commodore told me that he should at once send
me on to Jamaica, under convoy of the Lowestoffe, and gave me directions
to get ready again for sea. I had a number of visitors on board, who
came to congratulate me on my escape, and to have a look at the galleon,
which was much such a craft as some of the followers of Columbus might
have