ieutenant in charge has been killed by
the _Independencia's_ last shot."

Jim ran off, as requested, and took charge of the weapon, while the
_Covadonga_, describing a wide curve, wheeled round until she presented
her bow to the wrecked Peruvian, and at a distance of about half a mile,
began to plump shell right into her stern. Jim made excellent practice
with the gun, and put shot after shot into the hapless vessel, each of
which, entering her stern, passed through the whole length of the ship,
finally setting her on fire in several places. Then, the
_Independencia's_ hull having very nearly filled with water, she fell
over on her side and became a complete wreck. Jim, however, still
continued his firing until a man on board the Peruvian crawled aft and,
hauling down the colours, hoisted a white flag in its place. The
_Covadonga_ then, and only then, ceased firing.

But unfortunately she could not enjoy the fruits of her victory, for, at
the very moment when the Peruvian surrendered, the _Huascar_, having
picked up the survivors of the _Esmeralda's_ crew, made her appearance
beyond the western end of the island which forms the south side of the
bay of Iquique. The gunboat was, of course, no match for the monitor;
and Condell was therefore reluctantly compelled to abandon the
_Independencia_ and seek his own safety in flight to the southward.

Jim therefore fired a gun in defiance at the _Huascar_, which
immediately took up the pursuit, and the _Covadonga_ steamed away toward
Antofagasta, which she reached on the following day, having run the
_Huascar_ out of sight; that ship being unable to steam very fast in
consequence of an injury to her bow, caused by the ramming of the
_Esmeralda_.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE INCA'S PROPHECY.

On reaching Antofagasta the _Covadonga_ went into the roads and lay
inside the reef which stretches across their entrance; and there, her
captain, Carlos Condell, telegraphed to Valparaiso, giving details of
the previous day's fight, and asking for further orders, while he set
about repairing the very extensive damage which had been sustained by
his ship in her fight with the _Independencia_. On the following day
Condell received news from Valparaiso to the effect that the Chilian
fleet had gone north to Callao; and was instructed that he himself was
to rejoin as soon as he received word from Iquique that Admiral Williams
had returned to that port. He was further instructed to proce