action for over two hours,
when, owing to her superior speed, she effected her escape. The carnage
on both sides was terrible, and the _Union_, although much the larger
ship, was so seriously damaged that she was obliged to return to Callao,
the principal seaport of Peru, in order to be drydocked and repaired.
The _Magellanes_ then fell in with the main Chilian squadron, off
Iquique, and made her report of the occurrence.

It was at first intended that Iquique should merely be bombarded; but to
render the attendant conditions as stringent as possible, Admiral
Williams strictly forbade the condensation of fresh water on shore, a
prohibition that would naturally cause very great inconvenience to the
inhabitants, since fresh water, either from springs, wells, or streams,
was almost unobtainable in the town. On several occasions, however,
smoke was observed to be rising from the spot where the condensing
apparatus was located, indicating an apparent disposition on the part of
the inhabitants to disregard the prohibition; and this so incensed the
Chilian admiral that he determined to send Douglas on shore with a
message to the effect that if the offence were persisted in, he would be
compelled to bombard.

The steam-launch was accordingly lowered away from the _Blanco
Encalada_, and manned; and presently Jim, in full uniform, took his seat
in the stern-sheets of the craft, which immediately steamed away to
carry the admiral's protest and message to the _Intendente_ of Iquique.

In about half an hour the launch ran alongside the quay at Iquique, and
Jim sprang ashore, declining the offer of the coxswain to accompany him
and show him the way to the _intendente's_ quarters.

Jim, whose knowledge of Spanish was by this time nearly perfect, made
inquiries at the pier for the office of the _intendente_, and a man, in
a uniform with which the lad was not acquainted, immediately offered to
conduct him thither. Jim, suspecting no treachery, unhesitatingly
accepted this individual's services, and the pair, entering into an
animated conversation, left the pier and turned their steps townward.

For some distance their way led along a sandy road, paved here and there
with cobblestones, and fronted by buildings which seemed to be hotels or
inns of the cheaper kind, probably intended for the accommodation of
seamen from foreign ships which used the port. They followed this road,
which ran along the sea-front, for about a mile and a