de their escape,--our lieutenant wisely not allowing us to
follow. Five guns found in the battery were spiked, upon which we
immediately re-embarked and pulled away towards the schooner.

We had not got many fathoms from the shore, however, when a thick smoke
was seen issuing from her hatches, followed by flames which burst out
from every part. We pulled on, in the hope of being able to extinguish
them; for she appeared to be a remarkably fine vessel, and would have
proved a prize worth capture. Before we got up to her, however, the
lieutenant ordered the men to back their oars. And not too soon. The
boats had still some way on them, when up went the masts and deck of the
schooner, numerous fragments falling close around us. The flames raged
furiously for a few minutes longer, after which the hull of the
lightly-built vessel, shattered by the explosion, sank beneath the
surface. What had become of the unfortunate slaves we could not tell;
but it was to be hoped, for the sake of humanity, that all had been
landed. One thing was very certain,--that we should be unable to
capture any of them should we land, as they would all have been driven
up into the interior. We therefore pulled back to the ship; and the
breeze blowing strongly down the river, she and our prize were got under
way, and we stood towards its mouth.

The water on the bar being tolerably smooth, we got out without
difficulty, and shortly afterwards sighted a sail beating up towards the
land. She was made out to be a frigate, and proved to be that of the
commodore on the station, who had also heard of the pirate, and was come
to look for her. He complimented our commander on his conduct in the
affair, and, greatly to our satisfaction, relieved us of our prisoners,
as also of the charge of our prize, directing us to proceed on our
voyage to the westward.

Dicky Popo, who had been entered on board, remained with us, and became
a great favourite both with officers and men.

It was not till long afterwards that I heard of the fate of the
_Sea-Hawk_ and the survivors of her piratical crew.

CHAPTER TWO.

ROUNDING CAPE HORN--A GALE--PUT INTO A PORT IN PATAGONIA--VISIT A
WHALER--A ROMANTIC HISTORY--THE LOST CHILD--A YOUNG LADY--A SNUG
HARBOUR--CLIMB A MOUNTAIN--A NARROW ESCAPE--VALPARAISO--THE CORAL
ISLAND--COMMUNICATE WITH THE NATIVES--AN ADDITION TO OUR CREW--DICKY
POPO LOST OVERBOARD--THE SANDWICH ISLANDS--MY SHIPMATES--SURVEY AN
ISLAND--RE