the only ones remaining
on board, except a hanging compass suspended in the cabin. Secreting
one of the binacle compasses, he took the hanging compass on shore,
and the exchange was not discovered.

"At 7 P. M. we began to make preparations for our escape with the
ship.--I went below to prepare some weapons for our defence should we
be attacked by Payne, while the others, as silently as possible, were
employed in clearing the running rigging, for every thing was in the
utmost confusion. Having found one musket, three bayonets, and some
whale lances, they were laid handy, to prevent the ship being boarded.
A handsaw well greased was laid upon the windlass to saw off the
cable, and the only remaining hatchet on board, was placed by the
mizen mast, to cut the stern moorings when the ship should have
sufficiently swung off. Taking one man with me, we went upon the
fore-top-sail-yard, loosed the sail and turned out the reefs, while
two others were loosing the main-top-sail and main sail. I will not
insult the reader's good sense, by assuring him, that this was a duty,
upon the success of which seemed to hang our very existence. By this
time the moon was rising, which rendered it dangerous to delay, for
those who had formed a resolution to swim on board, and accompany us.
The _bunts_ of the sails being yet confined aloft, by their respective
gaskets, I sent a man on the fore-yard and another upon the
fore-top-sail-yard, with orders to _let fall_, when I should give the
word; one man being at the helm, and two others at the fore tack.

"It was now half past nine o'clock, when I took the handsaw, and in
less than two minutes the cable was off!--The ship _payed off_ very
quick, and when her head was off the land, there being a breeze from
that quarter, the hawser was cut and all the sail we could make upon
the ship immediately set, a fine fair wind blowing. A raft of iron
hoops, which was towing along side, was cut adrift, and we
congratulated each other upon our fortunate escape; for even with a
vast extent of ocean to traverse, hope excited in our bosoms a belief
that we should again embrace our friends, and our joy was heightened
by the reflection, that we might be the means of rescuing the
innocents left behind, and having the guilty punished."

After a long and boisterous passage the ship arrived at Valparaiso,
when she was taken possession of by the American Consul, Michael
Hogan, Esq. and the persons on board were put