gigs, and only by
degrees did some of the other boats get up there--it was so difficult to
find our way. The boat I was in, with several others, grounded on a
coral-reef, not a hundred yards from a sea-battery, which we found
mounted no less than ten long 18-pounders; and as they pointed directly
on the reef, they could very soon have knocked us all to pieces.
Fortunately, the garrison slept so soundly, or the rain and wind made
such a clatter, that they did not discover us. Overboard we all jumped,
and soon had the boats afloat, and pulling on, we reached a snug little
sandy cove, surrounded by trees or jungle. Here the captain mustered
us, and found that he had only got about a hundred and forty seamen and
marines, and forty red jackets, with Captain Kenah, five lieutenants,
and some soldier officers. Among the lieutenants was one called
Lieutenant Edmund Lyons, with whom I afterwards was at the taking of
another place, of which I'll tell you presently. Well, as I was saying,
it was pelting and blowing and as black as pitch; and though we had
little more than half our force on shore, our captain did not like to
give up the enterprise, so says he, `My lads, I should just like to take
possession of some of these forts, but we are a small number to do it, I
own; yet, if I thought all would follow, I'd lead the way.'

"We didn't shout, but we told him that, to a man, we were ready to go
wherever he thought fit to lead us.

"`Then,' said he, `we'll just walk into the Dutchmen's castles before
they've time to rub their eyes.'

"Captain Kenah, with a party of us armed with pikes, on this at once
advanced to the rear of the nearest battery. Not a word was spoken, and
the noise of the storm drowned the sound of our footsteps. We got close
up to the fort--a sentry was marching up and down--a pike was into him
before he could discharge his musket--and in an instant we were over the
ramparts. We could see the Dutchmen, match in hand, at their guns on
the sea side, and very much surprised were they to find us in their
rear, knocking them down right and left, before they had time to fire a
shot. They cried for quarter, and we had sixty of them prisoners in a
few minutes. Leaving a few men to take charge of the battery, Captain
Kenah was pushing on to take possession of the next, when Captain Cole
sent to say he had got hold of a guide, and was going to take Fort
Belgica itself.

"Away we went along a narrow winding p