rew a much needed run on shore,
which they enjoyed with all the zest of schoolboys out for a day's
holiday. The island afforded little in the way of fresh stores; but
some pigs and horses were shot, and devoured with gusto by men who for
over two months had not tasted fresh meat. From this point the frigate
made for Valparaiso, and, after reconnoitring the port, put in for
water and stores. The officers were received with much hospitality by
the townspeople, and, after a few days' stay, were tendered a
complimentary ball,--an entertainment into which the young officers
entered with great glee. But, unhappily for their evening's pleasure,
the dancing had hardly begun, when a midshipman appeared at the door
of the hall, and announced that a large frigate was standing into the
harbor. Deserting their fair partners, the people of the "Essex"
hastened to their ship, and were soon in readiness for the action;
while the townspeople thronged the hills overlooking the sea, in the
hopes of seeing a naval duel. But the frigate proved to be a Spaniard;
and, of course, no action occurred.

[Illustration: The Peruvian Privateer.]

The "Essex" remained several days at Valparaiso, and during her stay
two or three American whalers put into the harbor. From the captains
of these craft, Porter learned that the Peruvians were sending out
privateers to prey upon American commerce, and that much damage had
already been done by these marauders, who were no more than pirates,
since no war existed between Peru and the United States. Porter
determined to put an immediate stop to the operations of the Peruvian
cruisers, and had not long to wait for an opportunity. A day or two
after leaving Valparaiso, a sail was sighted in the offing, which was
soon near enough to be made out a vessel-of-war, disguised as a
whaler. Porter hung out the English ensign, and caused an American
whaler, with which he had that morning fallen in, to hoist a British
flag over the stars and stripes. At this sight, the stranger hoisted
the Spanish flag, and threw a shot across the bow of the "Essex."
Porter responded by a few shot that whizzed through the rigging just
above the Spaniard's deck. The latter thereupon sent a boat to the
"Essex;" and the officer who came aboard, thinking that he was on a
British man-of-war, boasted of his ship's exploits among the American
whalers. His vessel was the Peruvian privateer "Nereyda" of fifteen
guns, and she had captured two Amer