a moment, and which then disappeared. Fixing his
eyes on the spot, he soon made out a vessel, hove to, and not two
cables' length distant. He hastened down to apprise Philip and procure
a glass. By the time Philip was on deck the vessel had been distinctly
made out to be a three-masted xebeque, very low in the water. After a
short consultation it was agreed that the boats on the quarter should be
lowered down, and manned and armed without noise, and that they should
steal gently alongside and surprise her. The men were called up,
silence enjoined, and in a few minutes the boat's crew had possession of
the vessel; having boarded her and secured the hatches before the alarm
could be given by the few who were on deck. More men were then taken on
board by Krantz, who, as agreed upon, lay to under the lee of the Dort
until the daylight made its appearance. The hatches were then taken
off, and the prisoners sent on board of the Dort. There were sixty
people on board,--a large number for a vessel of that description.

On being interrogated, two of the prisoners, who were well-dressed and
gentlemanlike persons, stepped forward and stated that the vessel was
from St. Mary's, bound to Lima, with a cargo of flour and passengers;
that the crew and captain consisted of twenty-five men, and all the rest
who were on board had taken that opportunity of going to Lima. That
they themselves were among the passengers, and trusted that the vessel
and cargo would be immediately released, as the two nations were not at
war.

"Not at war at home, I grant," replied Philip, "but in these seas, the
constant aggressions of your armed ships compel me to retaliate, and I
shall therefore make a prize of your vessel and cargo. At the same
time, as I have no wish to molest private individuals, I will land all
the passengers and crew at St. Mary's, to which place I am bound in
order to obtain refreshments, which now I shall expect will be given
cheerfully as your ransom, so as to relieve me from resorting to force."
The prisoners protested strongly against this, but without avail. They
then requested leave to ransom the vessel and cargo, offering a larger
sum than they both appeared to be worth: but Philip, being short of
provisions refused to part with the cargo, and the Spaniards appeared
much disappointed at the unsuccessful issue of their request. Finding
that nothing would induce him to part with the provisions, they then
begged hard