and eastward, and made
all sail, having determined to lay off till day light, to see
what they were. The ship that we had been chasing, hauled off
after us, showing a light, and occasionally making signals,
supposed to be for the ships in shore.

_July 18th._ At daylight, or a little before it was quite light,
saw two sail under our lee, which proved to be frigates of the
enemy--one frigate astern, within about five or six miles, and a
line-of-battle ship, a frigate, a brig and schooner, about ten or
twelve miles directly astern, all in chase of us, with a fine
breeze, and coming up very fast, it being nearly calm where we
were. Soon after sunrise the wind entirely left us, and the ship
would not steer, but fell round off with her head towards the two
ships under our lee. The boats were instantly hoisted out and
sent ahead to tow the ship's head round, and to endeavour to get
her farther from the enemy, being then within five miles of three
heavy frigates. The boats of the enemy were got out, and sent
ahead to tow, which, with the light air that remained with them,
they came up very fast. Finding the enemy coming fast up, and but
little chance of escaping from them, I ordered two of the guns on
the gun deck, ran out at the cabin windows for stern guns on the
gun deck, and hoisted one of the 24-pounders off the gun deck,
and run that, with the forecastle gun, an 18-pounder, out at the
ports on the quarter deck, and cleared the ship for action, being
determined they should not get her without resistance on our
part, notwithstanding their force and the situation we were
placed in.

At about seven in the morning the ship nearest us (p. 156)
approaching within gunshot and directly astern, I ordered one of
the stern guns fired to see if we could reach her, to endeavour
to disable her masts, found the shot fell a little short, would
not fire any more. At 8 four of the enemy's ships nearly within
gunshot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead towing,
with all their oars and sweeps out to row them up with us, which
they were fast doing. It now appeared that we must be taken, and
that our escape was impossible, four heavy ships nearly within
gunshot and coming up fast, and not the least hope of a breeze to
give us a chance of g