y have avoided being
seized on, or if she had escaped, it must have been with the loss of
the greatest part of her crew, as she would have been under the fire
of the guard, before she had known her danger.

The withdrawing of this guard was a circumstance that greatly
encouraged us, as it seemed to demonstrate, not only that the enemy
had not as yet discovered us, but likewise that they had now no
farther apprehensions of our visiting their coast, indeed the
prisoners assured us, that they had no knowledge of our being in those
seas, and that they had therefore flattered themselves, that, in
the long interval since our taking of Paita, we had steered another
course. But we did not consider the opinion of these negro prisoners
so authentic a proof of our being hitherto concealed, as the
withdrawing of the guard from the harbour's mouth, which being the
action of the governor, was of all arguments the most convincing, as
he might be supposed to have intelligence, with which the rest of the
inhabitants were unacquainted.

Satisfied therefore that we were undiscovered, and that the time was
fixed for the departure of the galleon from Acapulco, we made all
necessary preparations, and waited with the utmost impatience for the
important day. As this was the 3d of March, and it was the 19th of
February when the barge returned and brought us our intelligence, the
commodore resolved to continue the greatest part of the intermediate
time on his present station, to the westward of Acapulco, conceiving
that in this situation there would be less danger of his being seen
from the shore, which was the only circumstance that could deprive us
of the immense treasure, on which we had at present so eagerly fixed
our thoughts. During this interval, we were employed in scrubbing and
cleansing our ships, in bringing them into their most advantageous
trim, and in regulating the orders, signals, and stations to be
observed, when we should arrive off Acapulco, and the time of the
departure of the galleon should draw nigh.

On the first of March, we made the high lands, usually called the paps
over Acapulco, and got with all possible expedition into the situation
prescribed by the commodore's orders. The distribution of our squadron
on this occasion, both for the intercepting the galleon, and for the
avoiding a discovery from the shore, was so very judicious, that it
well merits to be distinctly described.

The Centurion brought the paps ove