ade. A council of captains was called on board the _Blanco
Encalada_, and a plan of campaign resolved upon. It was decided that
Captain Latorre, of the _Almirante Cochrane_, should lead the naval
detachment, which was to be drawn from all the ships of the squadron, in
proportion to the complement of their crews; and Douglas was the officer
selected to take charge of the party from the _Blanco Encalada_, much to
his delight, the selection being probably due to a desire on Admiral
Williams's part to recompense the lad in some measure for the
promptitude and coolness which he had displayed in saving the flagship
in Caldera Bay.

Jim joyously took leave of his friend Terry--who, as he belonged to the
engine-room staff, could not expect to be sent on shore expeditions--
adjusted the sword at his side, ran down the side-ladder, and took his
seat in the stern-sheets of the steam-launch which, with a whaleboat
which it was to tow, carried the detachment of men from the _Blanco
Encalada_. The boats of the other vessels were by this time ready; and,
headed by the launch of the _Almirante Cochrane_, carrying Captain
Latorre, the leader of the expedition, the little flotilla swept away
from the ships toward the north end of the town, vociferously cheered as
they went by the remainder of the squadron.

The distance to the Custom House was about two miles; and by the time
that they had covered half of it, it was seen that a considerable amount
of activity was being manifested ashore; in fact it looked as though
here, at any rate, the Bolivians had fully determined to offer
resistance.

Jim remarked on the circumstance to Lieutenant Alcerrerez, who was
sitting next to him; and while he was speaking, Captain Latorre hailed
the boats to slow up and come alongside, in order to receive further
instructions. These were soon given, and were to the effect that the
launches of the flagship and of the _Almirante Cochrane_ were to be the
leading boats in a formation of double column of line ahead, in which
order they were to attack. This matter having been arranged, all went
ahead again at full speed, while the men eased the cutlasses in their
sheaths and inspected the cartridges in their rifles, in readiness for
the anticipated encounter.

Suddenly, when the boats were within a couple of hundred yards of the
mole leading down from the Custom House, a blaze of fire leapt from the
loopholed walls of the buildings, and bullets flew round