ut; however, she made her way some
little distance further. Even in the darkness so large a ship was noticed;
the alarm was given and the drums beat to quarters on board the Portuguese
ships of war. In answer to a hail as to who she was the answer was given,
"An English ship". This satisfied the Portuguese; but as the wind had now
altogether failed and the tide was growing in strength nothing more could
be done. An anchor was dropped, but with enough chain to allow it to drag
on the ground, and stern foremost she drifted out from the shipping and
regained her old position at the mouth of the river. But although no
material advantage had been gained the moral effect more than answered the
admiral's hopes. When it became known that his ship had been in the midst
of the Portuguese squadron, something like a panic took place on board,
and this was increased by the news they received that the fitting out of
the fire-ships had almost been completed.

Dependent, as the garrison and shipping were, almost entirely upon
provisions brought by sea, they were already very seriously inconvenienced
by the blockade. Accordingly, on the 2nd of July the whole squadron of
war-ships, and seventy merchantmen and transports carrying the troops,
evacuated Bahia. All on board the flag-ship were delighted when they saw
the great fleet sail; for even Lord Cochrane had felt that even with the
whole of his little squadron it would be a desperate undertaking to
attempt to attack them when supported by the guns of their forts; now,
however, that they were at sea he could at least harass them, for if the
ships of war turned upon him he could bear away. Already an immense
service had been performed, for the evacuation of Bahia practically handed
over the whole of the province of that name to Brazil. The admiral had not
been joined by the two ships left in port, but the _Maria da Gloria_ had
returned, and the _Carolina_ and _Nitherohy_, which had been left at Rio
to complete their outfit, came up three hours after the Portuguese sailed.

He directed these three ships to pick up any Portuguese vessels that
lagged behind or made off to the right or left hand, while with the
flag-ship he followed close on the rear of the main body. The Portuguese
had intended to make for Maranham, where another squadron was lying, but
Cochrane pressed them so closely that they were forced to abandon this
plan and continued to sail south. The men-of-war did not attempt to t